Apple apologises to Samsung for the second time

Abiding by the ruling of a UK court, Apple has posted a notice on its website related to its feud with arch rival Samsung over the designs of their tablets. While Apple did not tender an apology per se, it did say the court has ruled that Samsung tablets do not violate its design patents. 

At the bottom of the home page of its website, Apple UK currently has the following statement:
"On 25 October 2012, Apple Inc published a statement on its UK website in relation to Samsung's Galaxy tablet computers. That statement was inaccurate and did not comply with the order of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. The correct statement is at Samsung/Apple UK judgement." 

The hyperlink in this message led to another page on Apple UK's website, where the company had stated the following: 

"On 9 July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited's Galaxy Tablet Computers, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple's Community registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the High Court is available from www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html. 

That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal of England and Wales on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal's judgment is available from www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the Community registered design in force anywhere in Europe." 

After the first time Apple published the apology, South Korea's Samsung argued that Apple's statement, which made potentially confusing references to German and US court decisions as well as the British ruling, was "inaccurate and misleading". Subsequently, Apple was ordered to again publish an apology on its website at a prominent place on Arial font, size 14.