Google and Samsung, the manufacturer of the Android-based Galaxy Nexus smartphone, are reportedly working together on a software patch designed to resume sales of the flagship phone, the search giant told AllThingsD. This action follows Google's decision to pull the Galaxy Nexus from the Google Play store after an injunction filed by Apple banned sales of the phone.
On Tuesday, July 3, a U.S. judge rejected Samsung Electronics' request to lift a pre-trial injunction against sales of its flagship Galaxy Nexus smartphone, dealing yet another blow to the South Korean company ahead of an upcoming court battle with Apple. Just last week District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, granted Apple's request to ban sales of the phone. Samsung had sought to lift the injunction pending resolution of an appeal.
Koh rejected a similar request on Monday, July 2, denying Samsung's bid to lift a ban on U.S. sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Android tablet that goes head-to-head with Apple's market-leading iPad. The two injunctions against Samsung market major victories for the Cupertino, California-based tech giant, as pre-trial injunctions are rarely granted in the U.S.
Apple and Samsung, the world's largest consumer electronics companies, are engaged in a global legal battle in roughly 10 countries, accusing each other of patent infringements as they race for dominance in the ever-growing market for mobile devices.
Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung last year, accusing the company of "slavishly" copying the iPhone and iPad. Samsung denied the claims, and countersued. The case is scheduled to come to court later this month. In an effort to lift the injunctions, Samsung has also appealed to a federal appeals court in Washington, DC. The DC court has exclusive jurisdiction over intellectual property disputes.
Google plans to support Samsung in its efforts to appeal the injunction and challenge the universal search patent at issue in the case. Google and Samsung are expected to question the validity of the patent, seeking a re-examination by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), All Things D reported, noting that their argument will likely focus on the fact the universal search predates Apple's patent.
In order for the Galaxy Nexus injunction to take effect, the court ordered Apple to post a bond of more than $95 million to secure payment of any damages Samsung may suffer should the injunction later prove to be wrong.
The smartphone case is U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, is Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd et al, 12-00630.
