Kit Chellel for Bloomberg:
A U.K. judge ordered Apple Inc. to publish a notice on its website and in British newspapers alerting people to a ruling that Samsung Electronics Co. didn’t copy designs for the iPad.
Judge Birss’ order comes a week after he ruled that Samsung’s tablets aren’t likely to be confused with Apple’s because they’re “not as cool.”. Apple had sought to keep Samsung from selling the devices in the UK by claiming patent infringement.
Apple’s lawyer contends that the judge’s order is tantamount to requiring Apple to advertise a competitor’s product, but that complaint fell on deaf ears.
Apple has a golden opportunity here. Imagine the copy:
It is embarrassing enough to lose money in litigation but to have to publicly state you were wrong is a slap in the face. Wow!
Let this be a warning… Don’t mess with us Brits, or we’ll politely put you in your place.
They should pay for a full-blown advert with side by side pictures of the two devices. Let the UK public make up its own mind.
Here’s what I would do;
“Judge Birrs has ruled that we must tell you in his opinion Samsung has not copied our devices because, ‘Samsung’s tablets aren’t likely to be confused with Apple’s because they’re “not as cool.’.
I nominate the following, solely, or as a group, for the writing of this notice:
The Beard, John Gruber, MG Siegel, Dan Moren, Lex Friedman, or the Macalope for the writing of this notice. Apologies to those others with great wit and a sharp tongue I have neglected.