As Samsung and Apple fight over the sales ban on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Tab 10.1, FOSS Patents has found documents revealing the aggressive tack Apple is taking with retailers. According to Samsung, several sellers received letters ordering them to cease selling the two devices in late June and early July, before the ban on the Galaxy Nexus was stayed. The letters say that the injunction "applies not only to the named Samsung entities, but also to anyone 'acting in concert' with them. Apple thus believes that the order extends to you." A sample letter says that companies must "comply with the order by ceasing immediately to engage in any of the specified acts (e.g., importing, offering to sell, or selling within the United States) in connection with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer and any product that is no more than colorably different from it."

Samsung has characterized the letters as "menacing" and says that retailers should be "permitted to sell their existing inventory, even without a stay." The requests to pull the Galaxy Nexus are temporarily moot, but so far, those retailers who do sell the now somewhat outdated Galaxy Tab 10.1 don't seem to have responded to Apple's request. Sam's Club, for example, still has the tablet in stock, and the company told us that it was "still looking at the court's order and evaluating if and how it may impact us."

Apple Letter to Retailers (Samsung Court Filing)