Older iPhones, iPads face ban in US after ITC rules in Samsung's favour

If you thought that the lull in the Apple-Samsung patent dispute so far meant closure, here's an indicator that the battle is far from over.

South Korean giant Samsung Electronics has succeeded in winning an edge over rival Apple, following a ruling by the US International Trade Commission, a Reuters report has said. The US trade body in its ruling said that it found that Apple had infringed on a Samsung-owned patent. Following its ruling, the US ITC also directed a ban on the sale of certain older iPhone and iPad models (iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G) sold by AT&T Inc. Now, although these versions of Apple's popular devices are over a year old, they are selling really well.

Samsung wins one round

Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet in her statement said, "We are disappointed that the commission has overturned an earlier ruling and we plan to appeal. Today's decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the United States."

Samsung in its statement said that the ITC decision "confirmed Apple's history of free-riding on Samsung's technological innovations."

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"Our decades of research and development in mobile technologies will continue and we will continue to offer innovative products to consumers in the United States," it added.

The US ITC's most recent ruling in fact, overturned a decision by ITC Judge James Gildea, who had on a previous occasion ruled that Apple did not violate patents at issue in the case, which was filed in mid-2011.

Apple reportedly, was found to infringe on a patent pertaining to 3G wireless technology and the ability to transmit multiple services simultaneously and correctly. "It is essential to ensuring that the devices are interoperable," the report added.