Apple rejects Samsung offer to help end Australia tablet dispute

Apple Inc has rejected an offer from South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co to help settle their tablet-computer dispute in Australia, hoping for an important court victory there in its global campaign of patent litigation. Apple has claimed Samsung’s Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets had “slavishly” copied its iPhone and iPad. It has already secured a block on the latest Galaxy tablets in Germany and is delaying their launch in Australia. Samsung made an offer to Apple last week, promising to help ensure an expedited court hearing in return for Samsung being able to immediately launch the Galaxy 10.1 tablet in Australia. But both companies made clear to the Federal Court on Tuesday that there appeared to be no prospect of such a deal. “It is one we don’t accept and there is no surprise.

Not giving an inch…

The main reason we are here is to prevent the launch (of the Galaxy 10.1) and maintain the status quo,” Apple lawyer Steven Burley told the court. Samsung has been forced to delay the launch of its new Galaxy in Australia until after the court makes a ruling. “It is not going to be achievable your honour, given the positions advanced by each party,” a Samsung lawyer told the court when asked about the prospects of a settlement. Last week, Samsung agreed to withdraw two features from the Galaxy 10.1 which allegedly infringed Apple’s patents. That has reduced their dispute in Australia to the one patent over touch-screen display technology.

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