Samsung on verge of winning German court battle with Apple

BERLIN (DPA) ― Samsung Electronics was on the verge of winning a court battle in Germany against Apple, a judge indicated Tuesday, as the tech giants engage in a global dispute over patents for mobile devices.

The judge is considering a case in which Apple alleges that five Samsung tablet products from their Galaxy range imitate the look and feel of Apple’s iPad.

Judge Johanna Brueckner-Hofmann did not issue a verdict, but said she was not convinced that consumers would mistake the Samsung products for an iPad.

She adjourned the case at a court in Dusseldorf to await a ruling by the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union in Alicante, Spain. Samsung has requested that the body de-register an Apple design.

The companies have fought legal battles in courts around the world over claims of patent infringement.

In August, the South Korean company suffered its worst loss in a Californian court. The jury found Samsung copied technology used in the iPad and iPhone, and awarded Apple $1.05 billion.

While Apple won a series of preliminary injunctions from the Dusseldorf court, these now seem likely to be cancelled when the case ends after further hearings.

A court spokesman said the injunctions will remain in force until the German court issues its final verdict.