Samsung Galaxy tab stays off US shelves, appeal rejected

A U.S. judge has rejected a request filed by Samsung Electronics Co. to lift a ban on American sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Currently mired within a tablet patent dispute with rival technology giant Apple Inc., the South Korean firm has now faced an additional setback as its stock of Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computers remain gathering dust in the back of stockrooms.

Samsung requested a temporary lift on the ban which was put in place last week as a result of the ongoing dispute. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, agreed to Apple's request to halt the sales of the Galaxy Tab, which runs on Google’s Android operating system.

The ban, focused on the U.S. market for the tablet, will remain in effect until the dispute is settled -- one way or another.

Each of the technology giants is accusing the other of patent infringement as they vie for dominance in the rapid-growth mobile technology market. Samsung asked the court to stay the injunction, and after its rejection, the company will continue to pursue an appeal to lift the order.

A spokeswoman told Reuters:

"Samsung is disappointed with the court's decision that denied our motion to stay. We believe today's ruling will ultimately reduce the availability of superior technological features to consumers in the U.S."

Apple's claims allege that the Galaxy Tab is infringing on patents that it owns and used in the creation of the popular iPad tablet models. Galaxy Tab bans have been sought after and won in parts of Europe and Australia. 

 Samsung's next step is to go through a federal appeals court that specializes in intellectual property cases as the patent war continues. 

The case is under the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California: Apple Inc v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd et al, 11-1846.