Technology major Samsung was given partial relief after a US court on Monday lifted a temporary sales ban on Galaxy Tab 10.1 in a patent dispute case that Apple won in an August ruling.
The district bench comprising Judge Lucy Koh removed the ban that restricted the sales of Galaxy Tab 10.1 in US markets, ruling that the South Korean electronic powerhouse didn't violate the design patents of Apple devices - the grounds on which the temporary injunction was issued against the sales of the Samsung tablet.
The sole basis for the preliminary injunction no longer exists since the jury found that Samsung's Galaxy Tab had not violated Apple's D'889 patent. "The court does not agree with Apple that Samsung's motion for dissolution of the June 26 preliminary injunction cannot be fairly decided without resolving Apple's post-trial motions," Judge Lucy Koh said in her ruling.
Though the Galaxy 10.1 is an older model, the lifting of the ban could still help Samsung in the run-up to the pivotal holiday shopping season.
"We are pleased with the court's action today, which vindicates our position that there was no infringement of Apple's design patent and that an injunction was not called for," Samsung said in a statement.
Apple could not immediately be reached for comment outside regular U.S. business hours.
Samsung had separately filed a motion against Apple saying the iPhone 5 had infringed on some of its patents.
The two technology majors, which control half of the world's mobile market, are engaged in serious legal pursuits in at least 10 countries in the battle for industry supremacy.
In August, Apple scored a resounding victory after a San Jose court found Samsung guilty of infringement in a high-stake patent case with the Cupertino giant. The bench directed Samsung to pay Apple over $1 billion in damages for intellectual violation.
The legal fight began in 2011 when Apple moved court in several countries against Samsung, who in return countersued.
Monday's ruling of Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co took place in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
(With input from Reuters)
