US bans Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus

The technology magnate Apple has been awarded a temporary injunction against its rival Samsung, limiting their ability to sell the Galaxy Nexus smartphone in the US.

This injunction follows a previous sales ban on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, a tablet computer which uses Google technology and challenges the Apple iPad.

The bans are put in place to stop Galaxy selling before a full trial is held. Apple will have to pay a bond of £61.2m ($95.6m), to cover damages for Samsung if the company does go on to win the case.

Judge Lucy Koh deemed that Apple had a strong case to demonstrate that its patent number 8,086,604 had been unlawfully infringed. The patent protects a device’s ability to make multiple searches through just one interface.

Samsung released a statement detailing their disappointment. It read: “Samsung is disappointed, as the court’s ruling will restrict American consumer choice in the smartphone market… [but] will continue to take all available measures, including legal action, to ensure the Galaxy Nexus remains available to consumers.”

Judge Koh, however, said that she believes it is in Apple’s interest that an injunction put in place. In her ruling, she said: “Although Samsung will necessarily be harmed by being forced to withdraw its product from the market…Apple’s interest in enforcing its patent rights is particularly strong because it has presented a strong case.”

Abbie Cavendish