Apple demands US ban on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus

Opens up new front in the patent wars
By Brid-Aine Parnell • Get more from this author

Posted in Hardware, 13th February 2012 12:51 GMT

Apple is seeking a US ban on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, the flagship phone for the newest iteration of Google's Android smartphone OS, in the latest battle of the ongoing patent wars.

The fruity firm filed in California, saying that "a preliminary injunction regarding Samsung's new Galaxy Nexus, which infringes multiple key Apple patents, is essential to prevent immediate and irreparable harm to Apple".

"Absent preliminary relief, by the time Apple prevails in this case – and Samsung's infringement is so clear there can be no serious dispute that Apple will prevail – Samsung will have rushed the Galaxy Nexus, which misappropriates many patented features from the iPhone, to capture market share from Apple that Samsung will be able to retain long into the future," Apple claimed somewhat shrilly.

"Even worse ... the full harm to Apple cannot be calculated, making it impossible for Apple to be compensated by money damages."

Apple is fighting the Ice Cream Sandwich-loaded Nexus over four patents: predictive text; a data-tapper feature, which recognises data such as phone numbers and provides a link directly to the dialler, for example; a voice search feature that Apple believes is imitative of Siri; and the popular using-an-image-to-unlock feature.

The iPhone and iPad-maker is claiming that Samsung is using a "follower" strategy to steal market share from Apple, knowing that customers often stay with their first smartphone OS because it's a pain in the a** to switch. Apple[..]erts that the Korean firm doesn't mind having to fork out on these patent infringement cases because the damage to Apple's market share will already have be done.

The filing also complains about Samsung's advertising tactics, which have poked fun at the more hardcore fanbois among Apple's following.

"While Samsung sells products copying features that make the iPhone distinct, Samsung has simultaneously embarked on an advertising campaign designed to tarnish Apple and mock its consumers for considering Apple's products distinctive and, for that reason, valuable," the fruity firm said.

Apple has already lost an attempt to get previous Samsung Galaxy products banned in the US, when a ruling from the same California court went against the firm last December. The company is currently appealing that decision.

The case is yet another front in the globe-spanning patent wars between Apple and Android phone-makers including HTC and Motorola. But the fighting is particularly intense with Samsung, which overtook the fruity firm in the third quarter last year as the world's top smartphone seller. ®

Apple demands US ban on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus • The Register

If apple takes my nexus away...I busta cap.

!! apple

with google making the moves it has recently with getting motorola, to spending on lobbying, to the deal with the government using android, i dont think this will turn out well for apple.

Even if it did, the ruling is so far away, and appeals would put a stay on the injunctions, by the time any of this actually mattered it would be patched around on the software, and the phone would be old and replaced by the new Nexus devices in the years coming.

These cases just move far to slow to be used as ammunition in a market centered around 2 year contracts and new devices. Thats why Moto went after them for hardware and radio infringements. Those stay valid from device to device, and you cant just release an update that changes the 3G radio in your phones.

Linnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Apple is fighting the Ice Cream Sandwich-loaded Nexus over four patents: predictive text; a data-tapper feature, which recognises data such as phone numbers and provides a link directly to the dialler, for example; a voice search feature that Apple believes is imitative of Siri; and the popular using-an-image-to-unlock feature.

apple gettin' scurrd....

Lotta things are goofy as hell about this.

The things they are suing them for "stealing".. predictive text, voice search, etc. Reaching for excuses to get courts to ban competitors.

Apple basically saying "we need those phones banned quick, once people buy them they will be loyal Samsung customers in the future"

Complaining in the court filings about the galaxy commercials making fun of apple fans.

And other companies/individuals who have already lost similar cases trying to ban older Samsung devices and have appeals in process might get these cases dismissed or at least consolidated once they try to keep it up over and over again

Apple goin for the jugular.

just remember the corporate motto at apple...

I hate apple smh .Make a new phone sorry !!s

Apple is desperate. It's showing more than ever.

wrong thread

Good now I can just get an iPhone 5 for my Upgrade in June

One year Apple products ban, starting now.

Wait so Apple really is trying to sue for facial unlock? How the f*ck does a company release a feature to the market before another company even patents it and still get sued for that feature? Or by image do they mean anything at all to unlock the screen? So not even slide to unlock anymore, just using any image in any way to unlock the screen?

Apple is a f*cking !! for this. I have bought Apple products in the past for family, but they are on their own for now on. I am not supporting these !!s in any way anymore.

Go ahead Apple stans, support these actions by Apple. Suing for voice search as well. As if Android hasn't been using that for years now. Comparing it to Siri and they just got Siri. These guys are clowns. Go suck a d*ck Apple.

Cause Apple did not copy Android features with notifications. Or copy Google voice actions with buying Siri. They are even complaining about Samsung's advertising tactics in a courtroom. Apple seems really desperate now. They are not acting like the premium brand at all.

Stop playing the victim b*tch a** Apple and man up. Innovate!

i dont see why apple is even wasting their time. just release a better product..you have customers dying to buy them every year...its a lot less work for you compared to samsung whos still winning over customers every quarter.

........wow if this really is true I have a officially lost all respect for Apple

This is some literally straight !! !! !!.