Samsung Galaxy Tab isn’t a direct rip-off of Apple’s iPad, according to U.K. Judge Colin Birss, which is certainly good news for Samsung. Although Apple insisted the designs were similar to an uncanny degree, the High Court felt otherwise, though Birss did state that the iPad was “cooler” than its competitor. Depending on your outlook, both manufacturers walked away a winner.

Unfortunately for Apple, the problems don’t necessarily end with the ruling. In order to make good for publicly declaring the Galaxy Tab to be a blatant rip-off of the iPad, the company will be forced to place a series of ads which state Samsung did nothing wrote when they designed their tablet. In addition to posting the information on a website for six months, Apple must also place ads in two U.K. magazines and three U.K. newspapers.

According to Bloomberg, Apple fully intends to appeal the decision. However, until that happens, they’ll have to comply with the court’s orders, which includes telling the world at-large that Samsung didn’t steal their ideas. That’s got to sting a little, but I suppose that’s what happens when you make such a bold declaration before the ruling takes place.

“Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited,” Samsung said in a statement. Well, of course they feel this way. I’m sure they wouldn’t be issuing such a release if the shoe was on the other foot, so to speak.

Unfortunately for Samsung, they aren’t out of the proverbial woods just yet. Along with losing a bid to stop a sales ban of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the United States, the device has been banned in Germany until the company can produce a modified version.

The tablet wars, it would seem, are far from over.