Samsung Banned From Selling Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany

A Düsseldorf court has now confirmed its preliminary decision to block sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Germany. The Tab apparently bears too close a resemblance to Apple's iPad.

As one of Apple's main suppliers, this injunction is a particularly bitter pill for Samsung to swallow. Just two weeks after a similar ruling in the Netherlands concerning the firm's smartphones (the verdict is due mid-September), the German courts have now dealt a new blow to Samsung's Galaxy product line.

The problem this time is that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 looks too similar to the iPad 2—a design that's apparently patented by Apple. That's a pretty interesting decision, since the Dutch courts overruled Apple's claims concerning similarities in design, and instead based its preliminary ban on two Apple patents relating to the iPad interface.

A Samsung spokesperson has already made it clear that the firm will not be letting the matter drop and that the decision 'severely limits consumer choice'.

Samsung is particularly keen to point out that the touchscreen tablet existed as a concept long before Apple brought the iPad to market.

For the time being though, it looks like German customers will have to go buy their Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets elsewhere.

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