Samsung Group scored a victory over rival Apple Inc in their long-running dispute over mobile device patents after a US trade agency issued an order banning older but still-popular Apple products like iPhones and iPads from the US market.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled on Tuesday that the Silicon Valley giant had infringed on a patent owned by Samsung Electronics that involves the ability of devices to transmit multiple services simultaneously and correctly through 3G wireless technology.
The independent federal agency slapped a ban on the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T, the biggest seller of Apple devices in the United States when Samsung filed its complaint in 2011. The products are assembled in Asia.
US President Barack Obama has 60 days to review the ruling. If he does not veto the order, it will go into effect.
It is not immediately clear what the impact could be on Apple or AT&T should Obama let the ruling stand, since the decision remains subject to a potentially prolonged appeals process.
While the products targeted are more than a year old, some models such as the iPhone 4 remain solid sellers.
The most recent version covered by the ITC's decision - the iPhone 4 - is now given away with a contract offered by carriers including Verizon Wireless, which is not affected by the ruling.
Samsung Group scored a victory over rival Apple Inc in their long-running dispute over mobile device patents after a US trade agency issued an order banning older but still-popular Apple products like iPhones and iPads from the US market.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled on Tuesday that the Silicon Valley giant had infringed on a patent owned by Samsung Electronics that involves the ability of devices to transmit multiple services simultaneously and correctly through 3G wireless technology.
The independent federal agency slapped a ban on the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T, the biggest seller of Apple devices in the United States when Samsung filed its complaint in 2011. The products are assembled in Asia.
US President Barack Obama has 60 days to review the ruling. If he does not veto the order, it will go into effect.
It is not immediately clear what the impact could be on Apple or AT&T should Obama let the ruling stand, since the decision remains subject to a potentially prolonged appeals process.
While the products targeted are more than a year old, some models such as the iPhone 4 remain solid sellers.
The most recent version covered by the ITC's decision - the iPhone 4 - is now given away with a contract offered by carriers including Verizon Wireless, which is not affected by the ruling.
