It starts with the Galaxy Tab, and now it’s onto the Galaxy Nexus.  Apple’s lawyer army has persuaded the courts that a Samsung product should be barred from sales again, for patent infringement.

the US District Court Judge Lucy Koh has ruled in favor of Apple  earlier today, granting a preliminary injuction against Samsung’s Google Phone. Judge koh has found that the Galaxy Nexus device is “no more colorably different”, and infringes on Apple’s slide to unlock patent, used in every iPhone.

Koh says:

Although Samsung will necessarily be harmed by being forced to withdraw its product from the market before the merits can be determined after a full trial, the harm faced by Apple absent an injunction is greater. Apple’s interest in enforcing its patent rights is particularly strong because it has presented a strong case on the merits. As discussed above, Apple has shown a likelihood of prevailing on the merits of all four of its asserted patents. Apple has further shown a likelihood of irreparable harm attributable to Samsung’s infringement of the ’604 Patent if the injunction does not issue. Samsung, by contrast, does not present any evidence of what hardship it will suffer if the injunction issues.

The very same judge had a similar ruling a week ago, in regards to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 violating an Apple patent, barring the sale of the tablet.  The baring is going to go into effect once Apple pays a $95.6 million bond, which will be used to cover Samsung’s losses, just in case the ruling is overturned and Samsung found innocent.

As expected, Samsung is going to appeal the ruling.

[Engadget]