US Judge blurs Apple and Samsung patent debate

A US JUDGE has decided that although Samsung's Galaxy tablets infringe Apple Ipad patents, Apple might not be able to prove they are valid.

This muddies the water around the debate that so far has seen Apple successfully bar sales of the tablets in countries including Australia and Germany, and could set Apple back in its anti-Samsung world tour.

US District Judge Lucy Koh said that Apple must show that Samsung infringed its patents and that the patents are valid under the law, according to Reuters.

Koh will deny Apple's request for an injunction based on its utility patents, but she has not decided on whether to grant the other that is based on design patents.

Samsung is taking a slow approach to its responses, even if it does cost it the Christmas sales market. After losing a initial hearing on an injunction in Australia the firm decided to take its time formulating a response rather than, as the judge suggested, expedite it.

Apple's Korean rival has also said that it will launch re-engineered models of its Galaxy phone to avoid bans on the hardware in Europe. µ