Apple wins battle to block Samsung tablets in Australia

American technology company Apple won a victory on Thursday in its global patent battle with rival Samsung when a Federal Court judge of Australia granted a temporary injunction blocking the sale of Samsung's latest tablet computer in the country. Justice Annabelle Bennett handed down her ruling on Thursday to ban the South Korean firm from selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer in Australia. Apple claims the South Korean firm's tablet copies its iPad, infringing patents in relation to touch screens and the gestures that control them. The ruling is a major blow for Samsung as the tablet has been widely touted as the iPad's most serious rival. The companies are also embroiled in legal disputes in the United States, Europe, South Korea and Japan. "I am satisfied that it is appropriate to grant an interim injunction, however, I propose again the opportunity of an early final hearing on the issues presented in this application," Bennett told the court. The ban on sales applies until the court rules on the core patent issue in dispute and threatens to sink the viability of Samsung's Galaxy 10.1 tablet in the run-up to Christmas.