European ban for three Samsung Galaxy phones

SAMSUNG has been banned from selling three models of its Galaxy smartphones in a number of European countries, including Ireland.

The embargo is the result of an injunction handed down yesterday by a court in the Netherlands after Apple filed a claim for patent infringement. It claims that Samsung copied technology owned by Apple that controls the way photos are displayed on mobile devices.

The ban takes effect on October 15 and involves sales in Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain, and The Netherlands. The ruling covers the Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and Galaxy Ace models. It does not prohibit sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which is the subject of another lawsuit.