Potentially Grim News for Android: Apple Blocks Sale of Samsung Galaxy Nexus in U.S.

[dgstorm]

In a stunning decision late Friday, Android (and especially Samsung) has been dealt a potentially serious blow by the ongoing patent wars with Apple. US District Court Judge Lucy Koh rendered a decision in favor of Apple's injunction to block sales of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the United States. The patent at issue has to deal with database mining capabilities in Apple's Siri voice assistant. Here is a quote from the Judge's ruling,

"Apple has shown that the '604 Patented feature is core to Siri's functionality. Accordingly, the court finds that Apple has adequately established the requisite causal nexus between Samsung's alleged infringement of the '604 Patent and Apple's risk of suffering irreparable harm. In sum, Apple has shown a likelihood of establishing both infringement and validity."

This is the second time this week that Judge Koh rendered a decision in favor of Apple's injunctions versus Samsung. Earlier in the week, Judge Koh also ruled in favor of Apple's injunction to stop sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States. In that case, Apple already posted a $2.6 Million Dollar bond to block sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. This is done to pay for legal costs and potential damages in case Apple's injunction loses on appeal.

In this patent infringement case against the Galaxy Nexus, Apple must post a $95.6 Million dollar bond before the phone is blocked for sale in the United States. That will likely happen sometime early next week.

Here is a quote from the Yahoo article detailing responses from both Google and Samsung,

"Were disappointed with this decision, but we believe the correct result will be reached as more evidence comes to light," Google said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

Samsung vowed Saturday to "take all available measures" to fight the decision.

"Samsung is disappointed, as the court's ruling will restrict American consumer choice in the smartphone market," said the world's largest smartphone maker in a statement.

The company said it was working closely with Google to resolve the matter.

"Samsung will continue to take all available measures, including legal action, to ensure the Galaxy Nexus remains available to consumers," it added.

The worst part about this decision is the potential for Apple to now use this decision to block sales of other Samsung or Android devices with similar functionality. It's even possible the new Google Voice Search capabilities in the Google Nexus 7 tablet could come under fire.

Source: Yahoo!

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[karmasyde]

Wow...wait...we have illegal phones now? Woo hoo!

Swyped from my sourcerized Lte Gnex via tapatalk 2

[Quicksilver7714]

I am so tired of hearing about these lawsuits. It gets old after about a year and now Apple has finally succeeded in banning a high profile Android device.

If it was up to Apple we would all be iDrones with an iPhone in one hand and a MacBook in the other. To hell with competition when you can win with court rulings instead of innovation. :banghead:


The Apple of the future>>>
Apple_iHeil.jpg

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[chucklehead]

This report states it has to do with Siri crap yet the Nexus doesn't come stock with a Siri app. Neither ICS or JB come stock with them.

An article on Droid Life states the infringement was the slide to unlock feature of the lock screen.

Who knows what's really going on behind the scenes. I liked the last judge that threw the last lawsuit out of court and told both parties to quit wasting the court's time.

[kisypher]

wow, apple. just.....wow. i really wish apple would just take their ball and go home, just go away. the US patent system just sucks, what a mess. i will never buy an apple product, i don't care if it comes to the point i have to attach a string between two cups to make a call. apple has not, and never will, get a penny from me for any product...ever.

[Asgard]

ALL CAPS RAGE.
And the worst part is that all my friends use iphones so they make fun of this, on the other hand like somebody say now we are using an illegal phone.
But really, patents are supposed to be for the progress of science and technology, not to stop it.

[rebretz000]

Is there a chance we would have to give our Nexi up?

[Mujibar]

Give them up to whom? We've purchased them. They're ours to use.

This injunction would only apply to sales of new units. Even existing stock wouldn't be affected.

Tappity-tap'd

[dudewithaplan]

When I read this yesterday, I was completely taken aback. WTMF?? Siri? Are you freaking serious? Long before siri, My Nexus one had nearly all that that crap siri can do. Heck, GOOGLE had the search function feature that apple won this on... unbelievable! apple is just bad. They are evil. What next an injunction against the Nexus 7? As a T-Mobile customer, it ticks me off even more. w/o the iphone, they are sunk if that worthless judge would have it. siri? really?
I HATE APPLE!!!!!

[Sim2k]