Apple Loses Appeal To Get Samsung Tablet Banned In Holland

Apple has lost its appeal to have the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned in Holland, claiming it's a copy of the iPad.

The appeal has been rejected by a court in the Hague and comes a week before a court in Germany is due to decide on a similar case between the two companies.

Last month, a court in California also ruled in favour of Samsung.

The Dutch judges said there were sufficient differences between the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the iPad 2 to allow "informed users" to distinguish between the two devices. These included a difference in thickness and in the backs and sides.

Samsung told the BBC that it welcomed the latest judgement.

"This ruling again demonstrates that Apple's products simply do not warrant the intellectual property protections that it believes," a spokeswoman said.

"Samsung will continue to take all appropriate measures, including legal action, to ensure continued consumer access to our innovative products."

Apple said it had nothing specific to say about the ruling.

However, it referred the BBC to a previous statement which said: "It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad... This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we've said many times before, we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas."

(Source: BBC)