Fearing its Galaxy Tab slate will never hit shelves down under, Samsung has reportedly proposed a deal with Apple that would allow the Korean electronics giant to launch its iPad competitor in Australia.
Thanks to its ongoing patent disputes with Apple, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been hit with a preliminary injunction that has delayed its launch in Australia. However, according to The Wall Street Journal, Samsung has attempted to resolve the dispute by striking a deal with Apple, the details of which were not disclosed to the court:
It wasn’t clear what benefit Apple would gain from any agreement, as details of the proposed deal were not discussed in full in front of the court. But Apple’s attorney, Stephen Burley, conceded there was some potential benefit from an agreement on the matter. “(Samsung’s) inconvenience would be diminished and we would be comforted” by such a deal, he said.
Justice Annabelle Bennett said that the proposed deal wouldn’t give Samsung the satisfaction of a final answer to the dispute, but Mr. Catterns said it would at least allow the company to sell its new tablet computer ahead of the crucial Christmas sales period.
Apple and Samsung, despite having a “deep” business relationship, are currently embroiled in twenty lawsuits in total, spanning nine countries. The courtroom battles haven’t just led to the Galaxy Tab’s ban in Australia either — the device was also blocked from stores throughout Europe.
The news of Samsung’s proposal follows yesterday’s news that Steve Jobs had attempted to resolve these patent conflicts with Samsung a long time before they actually hit the courtroom.
Do you think Apple and Samsung will strike a deal, or will Apple attempt continue its vendetta against Samsung until the Galaxy Tab is dead?
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
13 responses to “Samsung Proposes Secret Back Room Deal With Apple To Save Galaxy Tab In Australia”
Apple must drive a stake in the heart of Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets — and with them Android. Google’s touchscreen OS is derivative — and a blatant copy of iOS.
In the meantime, patriotic American consumers should buy Apple hardware and boycott Samsung.
All of these cases were going to end in settlements and money changing hands. Samsung is capitulating because they can’t sell their devices. They weren’t on very solid financial ground to begin with. Less than 10% of their revenue in 2010 was profit. Like many Asian conglomerates, they have their hands in just about everything and many product lines are unprofitable. With their mobile and components divisions bringing in the majority of profits, they can’t have millions of dollars of inventory sitting in boxes or production lines sitting idle.
They’ll make a deal here and in Europe. Apple will be happy. Samsung will pay more money to Apple and Microsoft than Google will see for each Android device they sell. Google’s lack of action in protecting its OEMs could be Android’s undoing.
Amazon has already created the Android tablet killing steak. Fire will burn all the ‘also rans’ in the Android Tablet market in the next 3 months. It’s be just dust and battered CEO’s wondering what happened.
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HDBOY you dont know what you talking about…..
I mean how desperate are they?
Apple isn’t trying to kill the Tab or any other product. They are fulfilling their requirement to defend their trademarks and trade dress. If they don’t then they risk losing both. If they shrug this off as barely an issue then it will be used against them by someone committing a more obvious offense as Apple not really caring so why let them keep the rights. If Samsung agreed to change the offending details the case would be over.
And make note that this deal isn’t about the law suit but just about the injunction against selling until the suit is over. Chances are that the deal was Samsung agreeing now to what damages they would pay and how fast the offending products would be out of the market, perhaps even worldwide, if they lose the case in exchange for being allowed to start sales. The damages might even be a blanket amount AND so much per unit actually sold. Which means they are risking costing themselves even more money if the injunction is lifted and the court sides with Apple.