Samsung modified the design of one of its tablets to avoid a court-ordered sales ban in Germany, as its patent battles with Apple continue across the globe.
The former Galaxy Tab 10.1 was re-released as the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, and features a metal frame that wraps around the exterior. The redesign allows Samsung to continue selling the Galaxy, after a German court banned sales of the device in September because it violated several of Apple's design patents.
Samsung and Apple are locked in fierce patent litigation in several countries including the U.S., Japan, France, and Australia. Apple claims Samsung's Galaxy devices infringe on their own products. Samsung has fought back against Apple every step of the way, and is seeking bans on iPhone sales in several locations, including the U.S.
Most courts, however, have favored Apple, leaving Samsung to seek alternative solutions. The redesign strategy worked well for the company in the Netherlands, and appears to have eluded the German sales ban as well.
Samsung may also avoid paying licensing fees, and stay out of court, by re-releasing its devices under amended names and slightly altering their design, though the company's recent practice of doing this hasn't been challenged.
Samsung is likely testing the waters to see if Apple, the courts, and consumers will accept the redesign strategy as a viable solution. If they do, Samsung may continue down this path, slightly altering its new line of Galaxy devices as a way to get around Apple's claims and to get its products on store shelves.
