Business

ITC rules Apple violated patent

President Obama is one of Apple’s last hopes to avoid patent embarrassment.

A US trade ruling yesterday sided with Samsung, banning the import of select older iPhones and iPads.

The International Trade Commission decision settled one of the many outstanding patent fights between the two tech heavyweights as their rivalry extends from stores into courts worldwide.

Apple has won its share of complaints — including claims that Samsung Galaxy phones are copycat devices — but yesterday Samsung took its most significant victory, arguing Apple violated its patents regarding wireless communication technology.

The panel ordered an end to imports of some older Apple gadgets, including AT&T versions of the iPhone 4 and select iPads, which breech Samsung’s 3G network patents. The latest iPad was not among the offending gadgets.

Apple said the ruling would not affect the availability of its products in the US.

The ban stands unless Obama vetoes the ruling or an appeals court blocks it. Apple also plans to appeal.