Samsung has lost its patent bid against Apple's use of the VoiceOver function on the iPhone.
Samsung had claimed that the way the VoiceOver function was activated on an iPhone violated their patent on an "audio output key", to a court in Germany. It wanted the function to be removed from Apple's devices.
VoiceOver explained
The function enables blind and partially sighted users to listen to information on their phone and has been welcomed by advocacy groups internationally.
Samsung came under fire from many commentators for trying to decrease access to accessibility functions. This row over the VoiceOver function is part of a far larger court battle, between the two technology companies. If Samsung had been successful then iPhone users would have lost their ability to use the VoiceOver function.
RNIB welcomes court decision
RNIB Principal Manager for Digital Accessibility, Robin Spinks, said the charity was pleased with the court's decision, but would be very concerned and ready to respond if a decision which restricted access to accessibility features were to take place anywhere else in the world.
"Access to information is a major barrier [for blind and partially sighted people] and things like VoiceOver are great for lifting this barrier, and anything that might limit that will be a concern for us.
"It the court ruling in Germany had gone the other way, we would have got involved with the World Blind Union, which RNIB leads," he explained.