Samsung Electronics (UK) Ltd v Apple Inc

The Samsung Galaxy tablets do not infringe Apple’s registered design because, despite notable similarities in the front view and overall shape, the informed user’s knowledge of the design corpus reduces the significance of those similarities. The Samsung tablets are much thinner and have distinctive detailing on the back, producing a different overall impression from the Apple design.

Parties: Claimant: Samsung Electronics (UK) Limited; Defendant: Apple Inc.
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Judgment Date: 09 July 2012
Procedural Posture: Civil / Judgment
Outcome: declaration of non-infringement
Legal Topics: Community Registered Design, Design Infringement, Design Corpus, Design Freedom, Scope of Protection

Intellectual Property Design Law Community Registered Design Design Infringement Design Corpus Design Freedom Scope of Protection

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Parties

Samsung Electronics (UK) Limited

Claimant

Apple Inc.

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil / Judgment

Legal Issues

1 Whether Samsung Galaxy tablets infringe Apple’s Community Registered Design No. 000181607-0001
2 Interpretation of design features and design corpus
3 Assessment of overall impression on the informed user

Ratio Decidendi

Court Disposition

declaration of non-infringement

Orders

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9, and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple’s Community Registered Design No. 000181607-0001