UK Judge: Samsung Galaxy Tab “Not as Cool” as Apple’s iPad, Voids Patent Claim

Oh, those cheeky Brits. Today in London, Judge Colin Birss (pictured) dismissed Apple’s patent suit against Samsung, which alleged that the Galaxy Tab slates are a rip-off of the iPad, according to Bloomberg. Part of the honorable judge’s reasoning? He was quoted as saying that the Galaxy Tabs were “not as cool” as the iPad.

His point was that the design of the two rivals’ tablets gave a different “impression” to the user, which made them different enough in his estimation to rule that Samsung didn’t violate Apple’s patents. (Of course, Apple will appeal the ruling.)


Although that’s probably not the language Samsung would have preferred, the company has to be relieved that it scored such a victory in the courts. Things haven’t gone as well stateside, where Judge Lucy Koh granted Apple an injunction preventing sales of Samsung’s tablets in the U.S. late last month. Samsung has a window in which it can sell its Galaxy Nexus phones in the states, but that window may close permanently depending on the results of an appeal.

The ongoing patent battle between the two companies has dragged on for what seems like ages, but things have gotten more interesting of late.