Samsung tablet sales ban is lifted in Australia

SAMSUNG Electronics won the latest round of its bruising global patent fight with Apple Inc when an Australian court yesterday lifted a ban on the sale of its Galaxy tablet computer in time for Christmas.

But the South Korean firm’s triumph in Sydney was tempered by a setback the previous day in Paris, where a court rejected its bid to block sales of Apple’s iPhone 4S in France.

Apple and Samsung have been embroiled in some 30 legal cases in 10 countries since April as they jostle for the top spot in the smartphone and tablet markets.