Judge orders Apple to publicly admit Samsung didn’t copy the iPad

Judges generally aren't known for their senses of humor, but at least one British justice seems to be an exception to that rule. Hot off his July 9 ruling that Samsung didn't try to copy the iPad with its Galaxy tablets as Apple had contended, Judge Colin Birss has ordered the Cupertino-based company to issue a statement online and in print saying as much. Birss, as you may recall, had ruled against Apple in the case in part because — in his own words — Samsung's tablets are "not as cool" as Apple's.

Under the ruling, Apple must post a statement on its U.K. website for six months explaining to customers that Samsung didn't infringe on its intellectual property when making the Galaxy Tab line. Furthermore, Apple has been instructed to place ads in several British newspapers and magazines stating the same.

After it was handed down, one of the company's attorneys, Richard Hacon, told the court that the statement would effectively amount to "an advertisement" for Samsung and that "no company likes to refer to a rival on its website." Apple is expected to appeal the ruling, perpetuating what has been one of the most prominent tech lawsuits in recent memory.

[Image credit: Wooden gavel via Shutterstock]
[via Ars Technica]

This article was written by Randy Nelson and originally appeared on Tecca

More from Tecca: