Google’s Galaxy Nexus phone that was manufactured by Samsung and was famously banned in the US after a court decided it to be infringing one of Apple’s patent involving voice search has been unbanned. According to Reuters, following the appeal by Samsung in which the Korean company asked the court to revisit its decision on banning the Android device in the US, the court decided to un-ban the phone and allow it to be sold in the country. Previously Apple argued in court that because Galaxy Nexus copies a functionality of its iPhone’s Siri feature, it poses threat to iPhone’s sales and should be banned. The court agreed saying that because Galaxy Nexus has the voice search feature similar to iPhone which will cause irreparable damages and Apple would lost market share.
Now after the appeal the court noted that the voice search feature found on Galaxy Nexus is nowhere near to Apple’s Siri so it poses no threat to iPhone and thus it should be unbanned in the country.
Samsung that was at the receiving end of this ban argued in the court after the ban was imposed that not only Galaxy Nexus does not feature similar functionality as the iPhone but its sale numbers are so low that it couldn’t be a threat for Apple.
Samsung that obviously is pleased by courts new decision has responded with the following statement.
“We welcome this reversal by the Federal Circuit, finding that the District Court abused its discretion in ordering a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus. Today’s decision confirms that the role of patent law is to protect innovation and not to unreasonably stifle competition and restrict consumer choice. We will continue to take all appropriate measures to ensure the availability of our innovative products.”
Are you planning on buying a Galaxy Nexus now? Let us know in the comments below.
