U.S. ban on Samsung Galaxy tablet lifted

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A U.S. judge says Samsung can resume U.S. sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, lifting a ban imposed in June during a patent fight between Samsung and Apple.

Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District Court of California lifted the ban this week after a jury ruled in August that Samsung did not infringe on the design of Apple's iPad tablet computer, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

"We are pleased with the court's action, 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.

The ruling is just the latest development in an ongoing legal wrangle between Samsung and Apple over the patents of some of both companies' most popular smartphones and tablets.

On Tuesday, the South Korean tech company said it was suing Apple, this time alleging Apple's iPhone 5 infringed patents held by Samsung.

"We have little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights," Samsung said in a statement.