Samsung to launch banned tablet on Dutch market

Google/AFP  – Aug 15, 2011

South Korean electronics giant Samsung will launch its Galaxy Tab 10.1
on the Dutch market (AFP/File, Park Ji-Hwan)

THE HAGUE — South Korean electronics giant Samsung will Tuesday launch its Galaxy Tab 10.1 on the Dutch market in the midst of a legal stand-off with rival US-based Apple and sales banned elsewhere in Europe.

"The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be on sale from Tuesday" in a large electronics chain around the country, Tamara Villani, Samsung spokeswoman in the Netherlands, said on Monday.

From August 23, the tablet will be available in various other stores, she added.

Apple's lawyers last week asked a Dutch judge to ban the sale of three different types of Samsung smart phones as well as three tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

It filed papers before the Hague district court on June 27, asking for an injunction and accusing Samsung of infringing on its design and patents.

The court was expected to give its decision by 15 September.          

Samsung's spokeswoman said she could not comment on how sales in the Netherlands would affect the trial's outcome.

"Whatever the decision, we can continue our business as planned until October 13," Villani said, referring to the date the judge would set for Samsung to remove offending products from the shelves if an injunction was granted in Apple's favour.

The case before the Dutch court is the latest episode in the battle between Samsung and Apple, manufacturer of the iPad, who have been pursuing legal action against one another since April over design rights.

Earlier this month, Apple also launched legal proceedings in Australia against Samsung, accusing it of infringing its patents with the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

A Dusseldorf court a week ago granted a separate injunction halting the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 across Europe, with the exception of the Netherlands.

Samsung indicated that it would appeal the decision.