The judge who declared Samsung tablets “not as cool” as Apple’s iPad is at it again. This time he wants Apple to post notices on its website and in British newspapers that Samsung didn’t copy Apple’s iPad’s design when creating its computer tablets. Apple is expected to appeal the ruling.
In a decision handed down Wednesday, Judge Colin Birss ordered Apple to post a notice that outlines the judge’s earlier finding that Samsung Galaxy tablets do not copy the designs Apple has used for its iPad, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The notice is to appear on Apple’s U.K. website for six months and in British newspapers.
Samsung also asked the court to block Apple from making public statements about the South Korean from impinging on the iPad’s designs. Judge Birss rejected that motion, noting that Apple was “entitled to their opinion.”
Different Results for Samsung in U.S. Courts
Although Samsung has been absolved of being a copycat in the United Kingdom, it hasn’t fared as well in the United States. Some of its smartphone and tablet models have been banned from sale there due to the likelihood that the Samsung products violate Apple patents.
In the U.S. case, where everything appears to be going right for Apple, U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh barred from evidence in the trial Wednesday remarks made by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs before his death last year. The remarks included Jobs’ statement that he was willing to go “thermonuclear” to “destroy” Google’s Android operating system, which is used in Samsung’s tablets and smartphones.
Samsung argued that Jobs’ statements show Apple’s bias and improper motives in pressing its patent claims against the South Korean company. Apple countered that the comments were an inadmissible distraction. Koh sided with Apple and ruled the remarks irrelevant to the case.
