After successfully gaining a injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany earlier this year, Apple recently set its sights on the revised Galaxy Tab 10.1N. However, it doesn't sound like the Cupertino firm will have the same luck with the new Tab, as the judge overseeing the case has said that the court is unlikely to grant Apple an injunction. Judge Johanna Brueckner-Hofmann said at a hearing that she feels that Samsung has sufficiently moved away from Apple's protected design with the Tab 10.1N. The judge continued:
“Consumers are well aware that there is an original and that competitors try to use similar designs, so buyers are vigilant when looking at products. We don’t think that someone buys a Samsung to make his table neighbor at the coffee house believe he owns an iPad.”
Despite the fact that Judge Brueckner-Hofmann doesn't seem keen on an Apple win in this case, her statements today aren't quite an official ruling. A decision on the matter is set to be made on February 9th. Apple will likely spend the time between now and then trying to convince the judge to change her mind, but with the changes in the Tab 10.1N's design and the judge's statements, I'm not so sure that it'll have much luck. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
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