Australia lifts Samsung Galaxy Tab sales ban

High Court of Australia has decided to lift the ban on the sale of Samsung’s tablet, Galaxy Tab, in the country in time for the Christmas shopping season.

Apple won a ban on Galaxy Tab, claiming Samsung had copied its iPhone and iPad.

South Korean Samsung had been unable to sell products in Australia since July.

Apple and Samsung are engaged in legal battles in more than 10 countries since April accusing each other of infringing smartphone and tablet patents.

Last month, Samsung won an appeal against a temporary ban on sales.

However, Apple was awarded a stay of the orders. On Friday Apple’s bid to extend the ban was turned down by the High Court.

The ruling is a rare win for Samsung as it allows the company to sell its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in time for the busy Christmas shopping season, a lucrative time for the industry.

The decision comes after a US court ruled against Apple’s bid to ban Galaxy phones and tablets, another win for Samsung. Apple has appealed against that ruling.

However, the legal tussle in other markets is not going as well for Samsung.

The company said on Friday that a French court had turned down its request to ban sale of the latest iPhone in that country.