Apple, do what the judge tells you and learn how to spell

The on-going rumble of litigation between Apple and Samsung may have made for some good headlines, but I for one am getting bored.

The iPad maker has claimed on several occasions and across several jurisdictions that Samsung Galaxy Tabs have infringed in its copyright and essentially copied elements of the design from its market leading device.

The complaint was held up in the US and led to an award of $1bn in damages - although Samsung is appealing this - and in Germany the courts also found the South Korean firm at fault, rather than the Cupertino colossus.

But on this island we call home, the UK courts threw out the case and insisted Apple place a public statement on its website to tell citizens Samsung weren't copycats.

Today Apple has put up this open letter and I am royally - well, insert your own expletive here - about how badly worded it is and how it seems to throw a middle finger up at the ruling from our courts.

Firstly, finding the statement is a nightmare. There is a tiny link at the bottom of the homepage which you would only see if searching it out.

The first paragraph sticks to the rules and explains that Samsung DID NOT infringe copyright of the iPad, but could Apple stop there? Oh no, of course not.

It prints the parts of the statement from the judge that almost sycophantically sung the praises of Apple's "extreme simplicity," "smooth edges" and "cool design" and that Samsung "are not as cool".  At this point I could still let it slide. Yes, it is nicely selective and shines a positive light on them, but in all fairness this is what the judge said.

It is the final paragraph I find a joke. It details other cases where Apple has won its law suits against Samsung, concluding with a sentence that could only be interpreted one way.

"So while the UK court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple's far more popular iPad."   

The point of being made to publish this statement was not to repeat the accusations but to tell your UK customers you were wrong.

Before anyone says so, I know I have published the details above, but it is my job to explain the story, it was Apple's job to clear Samsung's name.

Sorry Cook and Co but the court has ruled this and if you want to sell your products on this shore, take our money and, let's face it, not pay a lot of tax in the process, you can stick to this ruling as it was intended, not use it to dig the knife it yet again to your popular rivals.

Oh, and as a final note, if you are going to publish a statement for the sole use on a UK website, use proper English. Wilfully has three L's, not four, and recognised is spelt with an 's'.

I really hope the courts stand up to the company again and insist Apple at least removes the last paragraph and makes it obvious for UK customers visiting its website.