Samsung and Apple 'distance apart', court hears

Samsung and Apple Inc are yet to reach a deal which would permit the South Korean firm to sell its tablet computers in Australia, and are "a considerable distance apart", a court heard Tuesday. Apple launched legal action against the South Korean company in Australia in August, accusing it of intellectual property infringements with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, which will compete with the US firm's iconic iPad 2. Lawyers for Samsung on Friday offered a deal to its competitor but Apple said while it was considering it, the offer had not been accepted, Sydney's Federal Court heard. "No agreement has been reached," Samsung lawyer Neil Young said. "The parties are a considerable distance apart," he added. Apple's lawyer Stephen Burley said the US company had not rejected the deal outright but had asked for more information. The American firm is seeking a ban in Australia on the sale or promotion of the latest Galaxy, which it claims infringes on patents relating to its touch screen technology. Samsung disputes the allegations and has launched a counter-claim alleging Apple's iPhone and iPad 2 Tablet violate wireless technology patents held by Samsung. The companies are already embroiled in a patent dispute over smartphones and tablet computers in the United States, with both sides filing infringement claims against the other, while legal action is also ongoing in South Korea. Apple won its battle with Samsung in Germany last month when a court ruled the Galaxy Tab 10.1 had copied the iPad, and banned it from sale in that country. The Australian ruling could come as soon as this week.