A court has banned sales of Samsung's Galaxy¹ Tab 10.1 tablet in the US while it decides on the firm's patent dispute with Apple.

美国一家法庭禁止三星Galaxy Tab 10.1平板电脑在国内的销售，称其专利与苹果有冲突。

Apple has claimed that Samsung infringed² its design patent and copied the look of its popular device, the iPad.

The Samsung tablet is considered by most analysts³ as the biggest rival to Apple's iPad.

The ban does not apply to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 II, the tablet's new edition.

The trial for the case is scheduled to begin in California on 30 July.

"Although Samsung has a right to compete, it does not have a right to compete unfairly, by flooding the market with infringing⁴（侵犯） products," said US District Judge Lucy Koh.

In an emailed statement to the BBC, Samsung said that it "will take necessary legal steps" and that the ruling was unlikely to have a significant impact on its business.

'Extraordinary'

Apple and Samsung are two of the biggest manufacturers of tablet PCs and smartphones.

The two rivals are involved in a variety of legal cases in various countries across the globe amid claims and counter claims of patent infringement⁵.

While Apple had accused Samsung of copying its design and look, the South Korean firm has alleged⁶ that Apple infringed its patents relating to the way phones and tablet PCs connect to the internet.

Analysts said the order passed by the judge was a significant development in the continuing legal battle between the two companies.

"The relief being given to Apple here is extraordinary," said Colleen Chien, a professor at Santa Clara Law in Silicon⁷ Valley.

"Preliminary injunctions are rarely asked for and rarely granted."