Apple are suing Samsung on the grounds that the latter have copied too much of the iPad in order to create their Galaxy TAB. That’s for the courts to sort out. But what has been the effect on me?

I have been eyeing the iPad and the Galaxy for some time, gyrating slowly around them as one does around a beautiful girl at a dance when one is too shy to ask her. Portability, function, a general distrust of both companies for various reasons, the prospects of the new, improved version coming on stream soon – all these delaying tactics have held back the final commitment. The analogy with girls really does sustain, doesn’t it?

But now I see the light, clearly, unequivocally. Apple has switched it on. I will buy a Galaxy. Why? Because it is so like the iPad. I have it on the best authority, none other than Apple themselves.

Publicity is a strange monster. When you think it will help it often kicks you in the teeth. Banks know that, although they seem to ignore it pretty thoroughly. When you fear publicity most it can turn up trumps. The Japanese government has sadly not learnt that yet.

Every word we speak, every promotion we offer, tells more than we expect it to. We should be careful who we sue and for what. It may just help the opposition.