Apple vs Samsung Patent War: Galaxy Devices Running Android 2.2.1 and Higher Face Immediate Ban in Netherlands

It is like a boxing ring where Apple and Samsung are exchanging punches on each other. This time Apple lands a solid punch on Samsung in Netherlands where a court has banner the sales of Samsung Galaxy products which run on Android 2.2.1 version and higher. The Dutch court gave this ruling on the case filed by Apple accusing Samsung of patent infringement related to the design of navigation interface in photo galleries feature in the Android OS.

There was a similar verdict in the same patent case last year too and the court had banned the sales of some of Samsung’s devices. At that point of time, Apple blamed Samsung for copying the ‘bounce back’ feature from iOS devices, which led to Samsung redesigning and making it like a blue flash which appeared on the edges of the images. Users could click on that blue flash to scroll through the images. The court has made it clear that this ban is not applicable to those Galaxy devices which are built around Samsung’s own in-house designed photo gallery feature.

The court has also directed Samsung to assess and inform the total profits they gained from selling the disputed Galaxy devices since June 2011. A separate legal proceeding will be held which will determine the profit share Samsung has to give to Apple. Samsung has to pay a hefty amount per day coming to around $129,000 if it continues to indulge in patent infringement.

In another patent case which was on multitouch feature, Samsung was found not guilty and there is another case pending which is regarding patent infringement with respect to tablet design. Legal battle is just getting too thick and fast for the firms to handle and hope users don’t get squeezed which could turn detrimental to both firm’s interests.