UK Court of Appeal upholds original ruling that Samsung didn't copy the iPad design

Back in July, a UK High Court judge ruled that Samsung's line of Galaxy Tabs does not infringe Apple's tablet design patents.

A few days later, the same jurist, Judge Colin Birss, ordered Apple to run a notice on its UK website and in various publications stating that Samsung didn't copy The Big A's design.

To the surprise of no one whatsoever, Apple elected to appeal Judge Birss's original decision. Unsuccessfully, as it's turned out.

Today, the UK Court of Appeal upheld Judge Birss's ruling, you see, meaning that Apple will now have to comply with the High Court order to run the aforementioned notice.

On the plus side for Apple, Judge Birss did note back in July that a key difference between Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Tabs was that Sammy's family of tablets was "not as cool". Small consolation, perhaps.

The UK Court of Appeal ruling is effective across Europe, and, naturally enough, was welcomed by Samsung.

In a statement on the matter, a spokesman for Samsung said: "We continue to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners and that the origins of Apple's registered design features can be found in numerous examples of prior art."

Apple hasn't commented on the UK Court of Appeal's decision yet. It does still have the option of appealing to the Supreme Court, by the way.

If Apple chooses not to appeal again, then the case in Europe will be closed. Thankfully.