Samsung removes Galaxy Tab 7.7 from IFA show floor after Apple injunction

Samsung has pulled the Galaxy Tab 7.7 from the IFA electronics show in Berlin, after Apple was granted a preliminary injunction in the German courts to stop the device being sold.

The Galaxy Tab 7.7in was unveiled on 1 September alongside the Galaxy Note hybrid smartphone/tablet. V3 was able to try out the Tab at IFA on the launch day, but Samsung has since had removed the 7.7in device.

In a statement to V3, Samsung maintained that it would take all legal action available to fight the injunction and provide the full Galaxy Tab range to customers.

"This decision affects only the exhibition of the Galaxy Tab [7.7] during the IFA trade show. Samsung looks forward to the court's ruling on the preliminary injunction on 9 September," the manufacturer noted.

Annika Karstadt, press spokeswoman from Samsung Germany, was unable to comment on specific legal proceeding, but did try to downplay the reasons behind the decision to remove the Galaxy Tab 7.7.

"We have decided - on a current occasion - to replace the product [Galaxy Tab 7.7] with our other IFA highlight product, the Galaxy Note," she said in a video interview with AndroidPit.de.

"The Note was going to be our highlight product anyway since the product [Galaxy Tab 7.7] wasn't going to be sold in Germany at any rate. I believe it's better for the consumers [at the show], simpler and in the interest of trade show visitors that we show only those products that are going to be released in Germany."

Patents expert Florian Mueller explained that Karstadt avoided mentioning the Galaxy Tab 7.7 by name, referring to it only as "the product", for two reasons.

"This could be attributable to a desire to downplay the relevance of that product, but the much more likely reason is that she was instructed by lawyers not to mention its name," he said on the Foss Patents Blog.

Apple is already involved in a bitter patent infringement battle with Samsung, accusing the Korean manufacturer of shamelessly copying its iPhone and iPad.

Apple had already been granted an injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and a hearing regarding this device is due to take place on 9 September.

Under German law, the court can impose fines of up to €250,000 or, in cases of continued contempt, order the imprisonment of Samsung management, Mueller added.