Apple Inc. (AAPL) can renew its bid for a ban on U.S. sales of Samsung Electronics Co. (005930)'s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer after an appeals court said it will let stand a May ruling on a patent dispute between the two device makers. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit today denied a petition by Samsung that it reconsider its ruling, which said that Apple could pursue the ban while a patent- infringement case is pending. Notice of the denial was posted on the court's website. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, on June 4 refused to consider Apple's request, because the case was still before the Federal Circuit. With the denial today, the appeals court will issue an order that formally sends the case back to Koh. Cupertino, California-based Apple claims Samsung copied the look and features of its iPad and iPhone. It has another case against Samsung in California in which it is trying to halt sales of Samsung's newest Galaxy smartphone while that lawsuit is pending. Apple and Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung have 30 patent suits pending in 10 countries on four continents. It's the biggest fight in the global war for market share in smartphones and tablet computers, Bloomberg reported.
