Samsung will fight US ban, could modify smartphones

Samsung has vowed to fight the prospect of a ban in the US against eight of its smartphones. Judge Lucy Koh has set 6 December as the date for Apple’s injunction hearing against Samsung smartphones. The South-Korean firm says it is open to altering devices as well.

According to news reports yesterday Apple has submitted a list of 8 Samsung smartphones which it wants banned with immediate effect. While Apple’s lawsuit encompassed 28 devices, many of those accused products are no longer widely available in the world’s largest mobile market.

The smartphones include: Galaxy S II 4G, Galaxy S II (AT&T variant), Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Galaxy S II (T-Mobile Variant), Galaxy S II Epic 4G (Sprint Variant), Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge, Galaxy Prevail. The Galaxy S II is a flagship smartphone for Samsung and a ban could have huge implications for the South-Korean firm.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Samsung responded on Tuesday with a one-sentence press statement. “We will take all necessary measures to ensure the availability of our products in the US market.”

The report also said that A Samsung spokesman said the company’s options included filing to stop the injunction, appealing if the judge grants it and modifying products.

The company is also in talks with wireless carriers to remove the features that infringe Apple’s patents.

Samsung will probably have to modify its devices if a ban is granted.  The question is this: will it remove the infringing features or will it update the OS completely? If so Galaxy S II could get an upgrade to Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, ahead of the Galaxy S III.

Meanwhile, 20 September will decide if the injunction against Galaxy Tablet 10.1 should remain. There’s a good chance that this ban won’t hold as the jury ruled that the 10.1 Tablet was not an Apple iPad rip-off.