Samsung Electronics loses key lawsuit against Apple in Germany

DUSSELDORF, Germany, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- A German court on Friday turned down a request by Samsung Electronics Co. to nullify

Apple Inc.'s injunction granted earlier to ban the sale and marketing of its Galaxy Tab tablet computer in the European country.

The Dusseldorf court decision dealt a blow to the South Korean company's patent battle with its rival Apple. Samsung said it will

continue the legal battle against Apple.

Friday's court ruling came in the form of rejecting Samsung's request to reverse an injunction issued by the regional court under

which Samsung was banned from selling or marketing its Galaxy Tab 10.1. The court cited that the Samsung product had infringed upon

Apple's patented designs.

In early August, Apple filed for a court injunction in Germany to ban the sale and marketing of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 across Europe.

In its Aug. 16 ruling, the local German court restricted the sales ban to Germany.

Samsung Electronics, the world's second-biggest handset maker, said it will lodge an appeal against the decision.

"We plan to seek all available legal options including a court appeal and will make efforts to go our business smooth," said an

official at Samsung Electronics.

Since April, Apple has been waging a global patent battle against Samsung in the U.S., Europe and Australia, claiming that

the South Korean company has copied its best-selling iPad and iPhone.

In the Netherlands, a local court issued a preliminary injunction banning the sale of Samsung's Galaxy smartphones after

Oct. 13.