Samsung’s Full Response On Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 Battle With Apple


First we heard that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 had been blocked in Australia. An injunction? Not so responded Samsung late yesterday, “The Galaxy Tab 10.1 for the Australian market will be released in the near future.” As you’d expect, that opened up an absolute tonne of questions — what exactly is Samsung’s plan? Gizmodo asked, and here is their detailed response.

More: Well, You Could Still Buy The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Online

In short: Samsung says they’ve agreed with Apple not to bring in the US model, and that the Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 should be different enough to be “released in the near future.” They’re not saying how different, though.

And as for the August 29 hearing, it’s just to update the court and schedule further discussion. Call me naïve, but this sounds like it’s going to be long and drawn out. I’m not holding my breath for that “near future release,” but I’d love to be proven wrong.

Is Australia the first country where the tablet has been withdrawn?
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 has not been withdrawn from sale as it has not even launched here yet. Samsung has made an undertaking to the Court that the variant of the Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 presented by Apple will not launch in Australia. A Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 for the Australian market will be released in the near future.

What are the terms of the agreement?
It was mutually agreed that the GALAXY Tab 10.1 variant presented by Apple at the hearing would not launch in Australia. When the Australian variant of the device is finalised, three units will be provided to Apple to review for 7 days with the opportunity to raise any concerns within this time period. We are confident that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will not violate any of the plaintiff’s patents.

Can we refer to these two versions as the Australian version and US version?
Correct. There will be an Australian variant and variants available in other markets.

How do these two versions differ?
At this stage we cannot comment as the Australian variant is still in production. These details will be announced at a future media launch event.

Were/are Samsung planning on releasing both Wi-Fi and 3G models?
There have been no announcements to date on this. We will announce these types of details at a future media launch event.

Could Samsung be required to provide Apple with other tablets or phones?
As per the mutual undertaking, Samsung has agreed to provide Apple with three Australian GALAXY Tab 10.1 units to review for one week before they are launched in Australia. No other devices are being handed over.

What does the next court hearing on August 29 entail?
This date has been set in order to update the court on the status of the matter and to make decisions on timetables and so on for future conduct of the matter.

Does Samsung have any response to The Sydney Morning Herald’s quote from an Apple Australia spokesperson: “It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”

Samsung will continue to actively defend and protect our intellectual property to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communication business. We are confident that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 does not violate any of the plaintiff’s patents.

Is the 10.1 tab on sale in the US now? In other countries too?
Yes the Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 is already on sale in other markets.

Are any models in stores in Australia? Is stock even in Australia now?
No GALAXY Tab 10.1 devices are available in Australia from Samsung.

Gizmodo Coverage Timeline:
– August 3: Samsung Officially Postpones Galaxy Tab 10.1 Launch Event

– August 3: Well, You Could Still Buy The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Online

– August 3: Samsung’s Full Response On Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 Battle With Apple

– August 2: Samsung Says Galaxy Tab 10.1 Still Coming To Australia ‘In The Near Future’

– August 2: Galaxy Tab 10.1 Australian Release Blocked By Apple, Federal Court

– August 1: Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 Launch Next Week

– July 15: What’s Next For Aussie Tablets: The Mega Rumour Roundup


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