Samsung moves to block iPhone 4S sales in Japan, Australia

By Andrew Couts October 17, 2011

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The endless patent battle between Apple and Samsung spread further today, with the South Korea-based electronics giant seeking to block sales of the Apple’s new iPhone 4S in Japan and Australia, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move follows recent setbacks for Samsung in its legal fight against Apple.

Early today, Samsung filed preliminary injunctions against Apple in the Tokyo District Court and the New South Registry, Australia. This follows similar legal maneuvers by Samsung in France and Italy to block sales of Apple’s newest smartphone in those key European markets.

In addition to today’s legal move against Apple, Samsung also tried to undercut the success of the iPhone 4S in Australia by offering its award-winning Samsung Galaxy S II phone for a mere $2 at a store in Sydney, Australia on the same day the iPhone 4S went on sale. (Of course, the deal only applied to the first 10 people to go for the bait.)

On Apple’s home turf, US district judge Lucy Koh ruled last week that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 does, in fact, violate Apple patents related to the iPad. Koh did not impose a ban on sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, saying that her opinion on the patent infringement was “tentative,” and that formal order would soon be issued on the matter.

Adding to the pain of Koh’s decision, it was also revealed during the hearing that Samsung’s lawyers could not tell the difference between an iPad and a Galaxy Tab 10.1 when the two devices were held side-by-side at a distance of 10 feet, a failure that strikes to the heart of the legal battle between Samsung and Apple.

To better understand the ongoing legal battle between Samsung and Apple, see our complete guide here.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…

Audio / Video

YouTube TV just got even better on iPhones and iPads

Multiview on YouTube TV on an iPad.

If you use the most popular live-streaming service on an iPhone or iPad, things just got even better. YouTube TV — which boasts more than 8 million subscribers — just pushed multiview live on Apple's mobile devices, as previously promised.

It works basically the same way it does on a television. YouTube TV picks the programs available in multiview, and you get them all at once, with audio coming from one of the shows. Tap another, and the audio switches. And just as before, you can get multiview for sports, news, business, or weather. (Though we definitely don't recommend watching four news channels at once in an election year.) It's just in time for March Madness, which is great, though we hope you'll be able to pick your own games instead of just sticking with the multiple viewing options YouTube TV gives. This will be great come fall, though, when the new season of NFL Sunday Ticket takes hold.

Mobile

How to get new emojis on your iPhone or Android device

Emoji reactions on Google Messages running on OnePlus 11.

Text messaging has quickly become the default form of communication on smartphones. Sure, you can give your buddy a call to update them on your plans for the weekend, but it's not quite as quick and streamlined as a simple text. And combined with the ever-growing library of emojis available on iPhone and Android, it's easier than ever to ensure your tone and true meaning are received loud and clear by your recipient.

Mobile

iPhone not holding charge? How to replace an iPhone battery

How-to-replace-iPhone-battery-feature-image

When smartphones were in their infancy, battery packs were easy to replace. Most products let users open a flap on the back of the device to easily remove the battery, giving them a quick way to ditch a dead battery and install a new one. Fast forward to 2024, and that's a rarity. Replacing batteries is much more difficult today than it was a decade ago, and that's especially true for all iPhone models.

Whether you're working with the new iPhone 15 or an old iPhone 12, you can't just run out to the store and snag a new battery for your smartphone. Instead, you'll need to contact Apple directly or go through elaborate workarounds to install the battery yourself.