Samsung wins legal challenge from Apple

Samsung hailed a Dutch court ruling that the company had not violated Apple's patents when designing the Galaxy 10.1 tablet computer. The lawsuit is one of several between the two technology giants globally. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands Friday dismissed Apple's complaint that the Samsung products violated patents for Apple's iPhone and iPad. Samsung was permitted to sell the Galaxy 10.1 in the Netherlands, the court ruled. The Wall Street Journal said the court found the technology employed in Apple's smart phones and tablets isn't proprietary. "The origins of Apple's registered design features can be found in numerous examples of prior art," the court said, adding that "no company should be given a monopoly over such generic designs." South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said the Dutch court's ruling is less significant than a U.S. judge's decision to slash the damages Samsung owes to Apple for violation of American copyright laws. Samsung owes Apple $600 million, down from the $1 billion a judge awarded Apple for copyright violations in the case.