The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 may be facing a preliminary injunction here in the U.S., but the slate appears to be having much better luck in the courtroom over in the U.K. Judge Colin Birss today ruled that the Tab 10.1, along with the Tab 7.7 and Tab 8.9, don't infringe upon the design of Apple's iPad and that consumers are unlikely to get the two companies products confused. Judge Birss explained his decision by saying that the Galaxy Tabs appear to "belong to the same family which includes the Apple design" from the front, the thinness and "unusual details" on the backs of the devices help make them different. The judge added that Samsung's products "do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design" and that he feels that they're "not as cool." 

While Apple has yet to issue a comment on Judge Birss's decision, Samsung was happy to share a statement with Bloomberg, saying that "should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited." The Tab 10.1 may still be facing a ban here in the U.S., but at least Samsung's got today's ruling to be happy about, especially since it concerned three members of its Galaxy Tab line rather than the one that's in the stateside case. Apple will have 21 days to appeal Judge Birss's decision.

Via Bloomberg, The Verge, Official ruling