In the latest lawsuit against Google, British telecom provider, BT has sued Google for nearly everything they do. This mass patent infringement case by BT states that just about Google does infringes upon some older patents BT owns, which of course will result in months of dispute, back and forth. Products include Google Search, Android, AdSense, Gmail, Google+, Google Docs, Google Music, and Google Maps (yeah, it’s pretty nuts). It’s time to see where this transpires. Via: The Guardian, Gizmodo

According to Foss Patents and numerous other sources, Apple has won a preliminary injuction against Samsung in their ongoing, worldwide intellectual property and patents battle, with Apple decalring one thing, for almost every new Samsung product released within the last few months: A copied or stolen design, technology, or “feel” that Apple has patented (in this case it’s a design patent in Germany for the iPad). This time it’s the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Apple has won an injuction to ban the sale of all Galaxy Tab 10.1s in the European Union, sans the Netherlands, where additional legal proceedings would need to be initiated to achieve the same result. Already in Germany, Apple’s immediate injunction now has the right to stop sales of the Tab 10.1 (and if Samsung disobeys, a fine of $350,000 per offence would be enforced) and until Samsung appeals (which is extremely likely), then the Tab 10.1 has no place in Germany. In fact, in order for Apple to secure the ban in every EU nation, then they will still have to follow through with extra paperwork.

Whatever they have to do at the moment though, it’s still a massive blow to Samsung. Via: Foss Patents

According to Bloomberg, Samsung will be unable to sell the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia because of the current patents case against Apple, and until proven otherwise of the 10.1 infringing 10 Apple patents, will remain an item that cannot be sold in Australia. As Apple’s legal docs put it, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 copies some of the tech used in the iPad 2, as well as copying the “look and feel”. Samsung in the meantime has ceased to advertise the Honeycomb tablet in Australia and Apple has agreed that they would pay all damages to Samsung should they win the case (which has not been concluded yet).

Also, to add a more intriging turn to the entire matter, Apple “also wants to stop Samsung from selling the tablet in other countries”, however they do not specify which. Both companies have agreed to ensure the Galaxy Tab 10.1 would not be advertised in Australia until the there is court approval or the lawsuit is dropped altogether. Seems fair enough.

Via: Bloomberg

Out of 10 patents brought up the ITC has found HTC guilty of infringing two. What does this mean? Well, we cannot be sure now, as it is unknown if the smartphones in question would be banned from reaching the United States, or if HTC will be shedding tons of green paper to make the legal team at Cupertino happier than they already are right now. Via: CNET

Now for the irony: Samsung builds and sells chips for Apple products. A excerpt from the lawsuit is seen below:

“Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products.”

Via: WSJ