US court rejects Apple request on Samsung sales

SEOUL – Samsung on Saturday welcomed a ruling by a US court rejecting Apple Inc’s request for a preliminary injunction against sales of some of its Galaxy smartphones and tablet computers.

The South Korean electronics firm said US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, had denied the request to halt the sales of the products in the United States.

“This ruling confirms our long-held view that Apple’s arguments lack merit,” it said in a press statement.

“We are confident that we can demonstrate the distinctiveness of Samsung’s mobile devices [when the case goes to trial next year].”

A Samsung spokesman said the preliminary injunction had been aimed at preventing Samsung from selling the products in the United States during the crucial Christmas season.

Samsung last week won its appeal against a temporary ban on sales of its Galaxy tablet device in Australia.

The two companies are engaged in legal disputes over patents in some 10 countries including the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Australia, as they seek to dominate the US$100 billion market for tablet computers and smartphones.