Is Samsung lying over EU injunction banning tablet PC sales?

Samsung Electronics is alleged to have lied about a German court’s injunction barring distribution of the company`s tablet personal computer Galaxy Tab 10.1 in almost all of the European Union for violating the designs of Apple’s rival gadgets.

After the Dusseldorf court announced the ruling on Tuesday, Samsung claimed that it was unaware about Apple’s legal action because the court made the decision without asking the Korean company to attend a hearing or make its case.

Influential German blogger Florian Mueller, a patent expert, said on his blog Saturday that Samsung had submitted its protective argument on July 29 to the court before the injunction was made, claiming that Samsung was aware of the litigation.

Certain Internet users in Korea also said Samsung is trying to manipulate media reports on the incident.

Samsung said it filed a petition on its rights with dozens of courts in European countries such as Germany, France and Italy as a preventive measure late last month before Apple’s suit. The electronics giant claimed that it never received contact from the Dusseldorf court before the latter announced the injunction.

In the petition, Samsung asked courts to inform it if Apple sought an injunction against Samsung and allow Samsung the opportunity to make its case. According to Samsung, however, the Dusseldorf court failed to notify Samsung of Apple’s Aug. 4 injunction filing until the court made a decision five days later.

“We simply sent the petitions to dozens of courts at once because we never knew to which court Apple would go to for an injunction,” a Samsung source said, denying that his company lied though it was aware of Apple’s injunction filing. “Samsung may be a giant in Korea but is a mere weak contestant against Apple in the global market. We will take official action against those who spread such distorted and misunderstood information.”

The Dusseldorf court said it will hold a public hearing on Aug. 25 since Samsung filed the complaint.

jaeyuna@donga.com