Apple, Samsung seek to build on ban victories

Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co both won temporary victories in the German case over tablet computer sales in the European Union. They would try to turn the court’s conflicted position to their advantage when judges hear oral arguments over the Korean company’s product this week.

The Dusseldorf Regional Court on August 9 granted Apple, the maker of the iPad, a sales ban against Samsung’s Galaxy 10.1 tablet in 26 of the 27 EU member-countries, only to then scale back its effects a week later over jurisdictional doubts. The backtracking indicates the court is open to revising the rulings it made under time constraints, said Alexander Bulling, a patent attorney.

“Nothing is finally decided yet, and we will have to see how the judges see the case after reviewing all arguments,” said Bulling, who isn’t involved in the case. Samsung’s dispute with its rival across three continents is undermining the company’s ability to compete in a tablet market set to rise to $53 billion by 2015, said Neil Mawston, a London-based analyst.