Samsung scored a win of sorts over Apple as the two duke it out in various courts over patents. The U.S. International Trade Commission has banned Apple from importing some AT&T-specific models of iPhones and iPads into the country to sell.
This includes the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, original iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G only for AT&T-specific models. TechCrunch reports.
This affects only older devices on AT&T because it has to do with a component Apple used before it created the iPhone with multi-band support, notes TechCrunch.
Here's a link to full ruling (PDF).
The UTC says that it has issued "a cease and desist order against Apple prohibiting the sale and distribution within the United States of articles that infringe" and that this "determination is final, and the investigation is terminated."
Even so, these products may not ever actually be banned. Apple could be saved by the White House. The administration gets 60 days to review such bans and could veto the ruling.
Apple plans to appeal the ruling, too, and says that the "decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the U.S." according to a tweet by CNBC.
That's true. This wouldn't affect the sale of iPhones and iPads already in the country.
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