By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung Electronics reaffirmed its position Monday with regard to the ongoing legal tussle with Apple, and stressed that recent setback in courts in Australia, Germany as well as the Netherlands won’t have a big impact.
Apple secured an injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, in addition to a separate injunction in Germany.
Last week a much-awaited Dutch ruling favored Apple, rejecting Samsung’s request to ban sales of iPhones and iPads in the Netherlands.
``We don’t think we were losing our grip. The recent decisions by courts in Europe weren’t favorable. But we are still positive that we will win eventually,’’ said a high-ranking Samsung executive, asking not to be identified.
Samsung has filed for preliminary injunctions in Tokyo and Australia asking for a complete sales ban on for iPhone 4S mobiles there. In Japan, Samsung is seeking a ban on the sale of Apple’s iPhone 4 and iPad 2.
The company insists that Apple infringed on three user-interface (UI) patents, as well as one associated with wireless communications.
``The bottom line is that our legal team has reached a consensus to beat Apple at the appeals courts. We are in for the long-haul,’’ said the executive.
``Samsung chief executive Choi Gee-sung will take full responsibility of the ongoing legal issue. We don’t see any signs of entering a comprehensive cross-licensing deal with Apple,’’ he added.
The legal dispute began in April when Apple sued Samsung for ``slavishly’’ copying key design factors for smartphones and tablets.
In response Samsung filed suits in Paris and Milan to block the sales of the iPhone 4S. The executive admitted to an earlier report by The Korea Times that Korea will also be included in its so-called ``banning list.’’
``Again, our key businesses were being challenged. Samsung doesn’t want to be involved with legal issues. But in this case, Apple started it. It’s natural for Samsung to defend our bottom line,’’ he said.
A senior Samsung spokesman, meanwhile, said the chief operating officer (COO) of Samsung Electronics Lee Jae-yong, who is also the heir-apparent of Samsung Group, was expected to meet Apple’s new chief executive Tim Cook after a memorial service for the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs which was held at Stanford University.
Prior to the departure in a private jet, the COO told reporters that Samsung is a partner of Apple as well as a competitor.
``Samsung should maintain a healthy partnership with Apple. The companies should also compete fiercely but fairly,’’ said Lee.
The COO’s remarks raised expectations that Samsung will sign a peace treaty with Apple.
Florian Muller, a German-based analyst who runs a popular FOSS Patents blog for patents issues, said Apple has told its rival that it owns a ``thicket of patents.’’ However, it will only license ``lower level patents’’ to competing companies.
The revelation comes from a 65-page document Apple was filed in an Australian court last week, after the California-based Apple was granted a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Muller declared it as ``one of the most interesting court orders I have read in connection with mobile devices.’’