Patent Wars: Apple 2, Samsung 0
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) scored another big victory in its battle against Samsung Electronics, after the Korean firm was stopped from selling its latest tablet in the European Union.
The temporary ban by a German court comes only a week after Samsung was also forced to delay the launch of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia.
Word of the injunction weighed on Samsung, with its shares underperforming broader gains in Seoul.
Shares of Asia’s largest technology firm closed 0.5% lower Wednesday, compared to a 2% gain in rival LG Electronics, and a 6% gain in LG Display.
The benchmark heavyweight also weighed on the Kospi, which lagged other North Asian stocks.
Apple has sued Samsung in multiple countries, including the United States, accusing Samsung of “slavishly” copying its iPhone and iPad.
Samsung denies the charges and has countersued.
Analysts say the court decision is certain to have an effect on Samsung, with a possible temporary drop in sales and higher legal costs.
An intellectual property rights ruling in favor of Apple would also severely dent Samsung’s ambitions of overtaking Apple as leader in the tablet and smartphone markets.
Samsung is seen as one of the few global companies with the ability to do this.
But some analysts add Samsung faces the challenge of moving beyond being a hardware company, good at copying ideas, to one that’s creative and in tune with consumer desires.
Bottom line: Apple blocks Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the EU, a week after successfully delaying Samsung’s Australia launch for the tablet.
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