'Unreasonable' Apple 'looks bad'; loses court case against small Spanish Android tablet firm

We all love underdogs and Spanish tablet manufacturer Nuevas Tecnologías y Energías Catalá certainly counts as one, especially when it stands up to global market leader Apple.

It makes the small Valencia-based firm's victory against Apple in a recent trial a very special situation, especially in light of Apple's recent victories over rival Samsung, states Florian Mueller of Foss Patents.

The small Android-powered tablet computers of Nuevas Tecnologías were successfully defended from legal attack by Apple at a court in the small town of Quart de Poblet, after its devices (marketed as nt-k) were confiscated by Spanish customs because of Apple's legal pressure. 

And now David is advancing on Goliath, as Apple faces a damages case filed by the Spanish company, as well as charges of alleged abusive anticompetitive behaviour.

I saw it first

Apple is said to have asserted the same design-related right which ensured it victory in two injunctions against Samsung in Germany. Those particular cases led to a nationwide ban of the Korean manufacturer's Galaxy Tab 10.1 series.

The patents which were under scrutiny in the recent Netherlands injunction were apparently technical, however, not design-based.

Reports have been surfacing in Spain, via Nuevas Tecnologías' official site and through Expansión.

'Totally unreasonable'

Apple's initial attack began in November 2010 with accusations that the nt-k was copying the iPad and eventually led to its tablets being seized by authorities.

The manufacturer even ended up featured on an EU-wide list of product pirates and became the victim of criminal charges from Apple.

Mueller says this was a shocking approach for Apple to take.

"Considering that this was not a case of product piracy but just a dispute over whether or not Apple has exclusive design rights covering n-tk's Andoid-based products, I think it's absolutely outrageous that Apple tried to attack its rival under criminal law," he said.

"Having a commercial dispute is one thing, but going down the criminal law avenue is totally unreasonable."

He also highlights the damage that Apple has done itself by fighting small time competition so ruthlessly.

"I think Apple should use better judgment in the future. This story from Spain makes Apple look very bad."

[source: Foss Patents]