SOUTH Korea's Samsung Electronics said yesterday a German court rejected Apple's bid to ban sales of its tablet computers and new smartphones, the latest chapter in a global legal battle between the rivals.

Samsung said Munich Regional Court on Wednesday quashed Apple's request to impose a preliminary ban on sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1N and Nexus smartphone.

Apple claimed Samsung infringed on its patent rights, but the court disagreed, saying the technology has been widely used in the mobile market, Samsung said. The rivals have been locked in a series of lawsuits in Germany.

Last week, the Mannheim Regional Court ruled against Samsung saying Apple had not violated one of its technical patents.

AFP