Apple to appeal Motorola patent dispute ruling in Germany

Apple said Friday it would immediately appeal a German court ruling in favour of rival Motorola in a patent dispute.

"We're going to appeal the court's ruling right away," Apple said in a statement emailed to Dow Jones Newswire. "Holiday shoppers in Germany should have no problem finding the iPad or iPhone they want."

Motorola said in a press release that the court found Apple’s European sales company, Ireland-based Apple Sales International, was infringing on a Motorola cellular communications patent used in iPhones and iPads.

The court granted Motorola's requests for an injunction and damages, Motorola said.

In September, a court in Dusseldorf sided with Apple in a dispute against Samsung over the South Korean company's Galaxy tablet, which Apple said was too similar to the iPad.

(c) 2011 AFP