Australia may soon become an Android-free zone. That’s the opinion of patent experts after an Australian court hit Samsung with a temporary sales ban. Although the sales halt mentions only the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the patents involved could touch every tablet and smartphone based on Google’s mobile software.
“After today’s decision, I believe no company in the industry [will] be able to launch any new Android-based touchscreen product in Australia anytime soon without incurring a high risk of another interim injunction,” writes the oft-cited patent blog FOSS Patents.
The decision by the Australian Federal Court ordered the sales halt of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, which competes with Apple’s iPad. The Galaxy Tab violated two patents owned by Apple governing touchscreen devices. A formal court hearing was also ordered for the two companies to reach an agreement. However, that hearing isn’t likely to occur until at least well after the important Christmas shopping period.
However, if Apple wins during the formal hearing, “all Android-based products will effectively be shut out of the Australian market forever, unless Google or its device maker partners settle with Apple,” according to the site. Along with Samsung, Motorola and HTC could also be hurt by “Google’s cavalier attitude toward other companies’ intellectual property,” according to the blog.
Australia is just the latest country to side with Apple’s patent infringement claims against Android device manufacturers. Previously, Apple won a sales injunction against Samsung in Germany. A court in the Netherlands also banned Samsung phones, but only in that country. Samsung faces a sales ban in the United States. That court hearing, set for less than 24 hours from now in the Northern District of California, focuses on three smartphones: the Galaxy S 4G, Droid Charge and Infuse 4G, as well as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.
The obvious message coming from all of Apple’s legal moves for Android players: be afraid. Be very afraid.
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
113 responses to “Australia Could Become an Android-Free Zone”
At least Australian users won’t have to worry about viruses and malware on their smartphones without Android around. Give me my “walled garden” so I can work without worries.
Ugh stupid. Apple needs to knock this shit off. Eliminating competition is not “winning”, it’s bad for the user. I’m a pretty big Apple geek and own at least some iteration of basically every type of product they make… but this is just stupid. Android’s competition is what keeps iOS makers on their toes and vice versa. The competition is GOOD.
if anyone is actually happy that apple is getting products banned and taking choices away from customers than you need to have your head checked…whether you like ios/apple or android/oem you shouldnt want the other products to be banned…anyways i doubt any country will ban android as a whole
Competition is fine, but copying is not. Samsung have been blatant with their copying of the Apple styling and getting away with it. It’s wrong and I hope Apple stops them, they need to get their own ideas and get their own ‘look and feel’ not just borrow Apple’s.
Its not eliminating competition. its eliminating competition that didnt write but copied. Google please change what you copied and rework your OS and then release a competing version of android. I am sure android isnt going anywhere. But google should be held accountable and pay a fine and update their future os’s to not have anything copied. And samsung stop copying apple design and just change things around more.
I agree with this as far as Samsung goes… but banning all Android devices, no.
Except that it is not competition when Google is ripping off intellectual property. If their product was unique and did not infringe on patents then that would be good for consumers. How would you like to spend time and money to create a unique product only to have someone rip you off? I think you would feel different if you were in that situation.
Good point mate, people bash on Apple but they are simply protecting their invention and patents.
Ugh can we not pretend like Apple is some victim of some crazy plot here. They steal from everyone else just as much as everyone else steals from them. Everyone steals from everyone, that’s how we get better. Yes, the Samsung devices and their peripherals/accessories look WAAAAY too much like Apple stuff, but Android in general does not. iOS has stolen just as much stuff from Android as it has from iOS, and in the end, that’s great for the consumer.
This is bad, this is really bad. I’m an iOS addict, and iDevices are the best in my opinion but this is PR suicide. If they ban android then they will lose all fan base.
I cannot believe that there are seriously people who think that Apple is some sort of victim here.
Google’s approach to IP is very cavalier. They have this belief that they’re entitled to use others’ IP at no cost because they really believe that whatever they do just ISN’T “evil.” As a photographer who wishes to make some money off my IP some time in my life, I won’t post my work on Google+ until they change their TOS. Flickr, SmugMug, and 500px have no-nonsense TOS that doesn’t lay claim to your IP. Google’s, however, states they (and their partners) can do whatever with it.
The solution is simple: Google just needs to either pay for a license to use the IP or come up with their own solutions.
Apple’s not to blame here.
Yes, ban them until Google either licenses the IP or comes up with their own solutions. Google’s a leech.
If wasn’t for jailbreaking on a iPhone idk if id ever consider getting a iPhone. I have a droid incredible and iPad 2 right now, but probably would of gotten an iPhone 5 if they announced a real competitor to the nexus prime coming out soon (hopefully) and their are a lot of people like me who are not fan boys who like to customize ios and android, but this pisses me off, because without competition apple will release things that are not as advanced. No ios fanfboy would have siri or notifications if it were not for android. Competition is key for development of tech. Apple is just suing because they are scared android might one day take over most of there market share. Also as far as malware if your not stupid your not going to get it.(which many people are stupid) I like openness, but also love ios apps and ease of use.
Apple also infringes on other company patents would you like them to stop selling ios products? Steve Jobs basically said if your not stealing your not trying.
lol apple doesn’t steal peoples look and feel and design? i love mac’s but if you don’t take peoples ideas and try and make them better then we would still use fire instead of lights
you know what, fuck apple. there are videos of steve jobs saying that copying other products is how apple got to where they are, and he and apple are god damn hypocritts, they know androids better so the only way to stop them is to play like a bitch
exactly apple is hindering inovation
have you not seen steve jobs saying that apple copied other companies to get to where he was, fucking hypocrit
thats completely correct, steve jobs has said many times that apple copies from other companies, and now hes suing other people for it.
google is mature enough to allow apple to copy the most basic feature of android. apple is the biggest loser because steve jobs isnt smart enough to create a good notification system so he copies androids 2 years too late. i am ashamed of steve jobs
come on apple, show some pride
Was the notification system patented?
If not, it’s not “maturity,” but a matter of it being fair game.
Apple may not be a “victim” but they have the right, and possibly the legal obligation, to protect and enforce their patents and intellectual property rights. If you were in their shoes you’d do the same. Little guys get wiped out by copycats all the time. The only difference here is that Apple has the money to effectively defend their patents and designs.
If Apple did not actively defend their trademarks in a timely manner, the courts would assume that they were willingly abandoning them. All court action taken would be dismissed, as is required by trademark law. I have to assume patent law is similar.
Can you name a patent that Apple has found to be violating?
It seems ironic that apple is suing people and banning products from being released in a free society, after steve jobs says this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
Please name something that Apple stole. iOS existed before Android went touch. And it seems every move iOS has made has been added to Android later. Notifications are the only thing that seems to have gone the other way. Where did Android get the idea from though? Nokia phone SMS lists from 1996? Email message lists from 1986? Notification lists are not a spectacular creation, but an old idea applied to a different list of events.
“pride”? WTF are you talking about?
There are no “videos of steve jobs saying that copying other products is how apple got to there they are.” What are you, twelve?
If you can’t make accurate criticisms, why should anyone listen to you?
Not true.
So you stupid fag ifanboy, happy???
I have lots of apple products and I can buy also other products from competitor and I personally doesn’t like what apple likes to happen…
Most people I know that is ok with apple terrorizing other manufacturer are mostly poor itards that they can buy only apple from their small take home per month…
But those can afford, never like the idea as they like to buy other technology from other real technology company NOT JUST MSRKETING AND DESIGNING COMPANY like apple….
Wake up imorons…
So you stupid fag ifanboy, happy???
I have lots of apple products and I can buy also other products from competitor and I personally doesn’t like what apple likes to happen…
Most people I know that is ok with apple terrorizing other manufacturer are mostly poor itards that they can buy only apple from their small take home per month…
But those can afford, never like the idea as they like to buy other technology from other real technology company NOT JUST MARKETING AND DESIGNING COMPANY like apple….
APPLE NEVER INVENTED ANYTHING, ALL WHAT THEY HAVE NOW WAS DERIVED FROM OTHER INVENTIONS AS THEY STEAL, COPY AND BOUGHT THOSE TECHNOLOGY…
Wake up imorons…
English is a difficult language to grasp, isn’t it.
copy, not steal.. and let the court make the judge, not you.
Lol good English
Link the video.
I disagree.
I was thinking the same thing… About Google.
Link where “Steve” said that.
Though so.
You mean the notification system from OS X?
He never will.
Link it here.
Here Here.
To my recollection Jobs never said Apple copied from other companies.
Link the video please.
And please tell us how Android’s better. It’s touch interface came well after iPhone was announced (copy), and the only thing it seemed to have that iOS didn’t was the notification list, a variation on something that has been around since 1986 – email lists. SMS lists from 1996 Nokia phones could be classed as a similar feature. The only advantage Android seems to really have is that it is (was) free for manufacturers. Now that MS is forcing license agreements, Android may soon be abandoned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
To throw into the argument:
Jobs saying “as picasso said ‘Good artists copy, great artists steal.’ and we have always been shameless about stealing good ideas. and I think part of what made the macintosh great was they people working “
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
typical apple, if you cant invent, steal, if you cant beat em, patent troll them out.
Typical Apple shit
Jobs dies, “hero of the world”
Dennis Ritchie dies, “who the fuck is he?”
it’s sad and stupid but that’s how the world and history will put Jobs in the books
I really hope Apple dies, it just harm technology
Are you trying to imply iOS was the first touch OS?
Windows on touch screen devices long before Apple watered down OSX (into iOS) for their “innovative” touch products.
Android has no more infringed on iOS than iOS has infringed on past touch based OS systems.
These patent law suits are a farce. Steve Jobs was a cunt, and always will be.
I never thought Apple could outright buy an entire country, but…there ya go.
Xerox invented the GUI.
Steve Jobs was a cunt? You’re just an ignorant buffoon.
I wonder who the world could have done without more.
Jobs, who helped create some of the world’s independently best-selling products ever, and built a corporation that now employs tens of thousands of talented people including engineers, artists, chefs, and programmers. And who gave Microsoft it’s best opportunities to sell profitable software. And helped make Apple the largest corporation in the world, employing thousands more than before his return, and rewarding those who invested in them with great increases in their share value.
Or you. An insignificant little shit, who sits there and insults those whose work you benefit from everyday, that provided you with the very means you use to insult them.
What exactly have you done that is even remotely significant?
You say these lawsuits are a farce. Do you have a law degree? Have you studied patent law? Do you know the first thing about patents, their purpose, why they exist? I bet not.
Please tell us what area of study you have made significant progress in to deserve any recognition.
And for your information, one of the first touch screen computers was the HP-150 from 1983. When did Windows have it’s touch layer added? This does not change the fact that iOS (which introduced a new interface) came well before Android’s touch interface, which looks and acts significantly similarly to iOS’s.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/0…
Samsung Galaxys are actually allowed to be sold in the Netherlands
Apple sues Samsung, so as a “fuck you”, Via (working with Samsung) sues Apple.
I hope Via can win against Apple.
All this patent thing is ridicolous, the ones that are damaged the most are costumers… If all this circus was running in early years Konrad Zuse would have been the only one selling Computers, Innocento Manzetti would have been the only one able to sell Telephones, Microsoft would have been the only one able to sell Tablet PC’s and IBM would have been the only notebook producer in the world. Apple patents also the gestures (thanks to hilarious USA laws), the fun thing is the the most famous gesture (thank god) is not patentable… (Middle finger up) :-D
BTW
Steve Jobs
“Good artists copy great artists steal”
“Whe’ve always been shameless about stealing good ideas”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
“Good artists copy great artists steal” Steve JobsYou get a bad vote in History
A bit more complicated than that. Gates responded to Jobs by saying that they both had a rich neighbor–Xerox PARC–and by the time Gates got there, Jobs had already stolen it. Not true. Jobs saw the PARC stuff, saw its worth, which Xerox did NOT and were determined to give away despite PARC requests to shut the doors. Jobs asked Gates to see the first Apple GUI product to write software for there was no GUI software out and it’s a completely different way to code.
Apple is no innocent but when you remember that Mozart saw virtue in Bach and used his simphonias you recall the old artist’s dictum: artists copy. Great artists steal.
Apple is just better run, organized and agile than anyone else. Hence their success.
Very true mate, all these suing things Apple is doing to Samsung and others (specially Samaung) is a big big bullshit…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
You say the truth but the fact remains that if you invent an OS and I make it alot better I get the props for what I’ve done, if you use a tribunal to avoid the manipulation of your invention means that you have alot of FEAR that I can be better than you. I don’t think the Apple should FEAR anybody because is strong and can easily “overplay” the opponents, simply Apple has the right to be paid. The entire design topic il ridicolous, Armani invent a style and then a thousand of pret-a-porter brand copy, but Armani is Armani, nobody that has sufficient money buys copies…