An Italian judge has reportedly denied Samsung's request for a ban on the Apple iPhone 4S in the country.
According to Agenzia Giornalistica Italia (AGI), a Milan court today rejected Samsung's bid to have the iPhone 4S launch delayed in the country. The judges did agree, however, to Apple and Samsung's requests to submit more information, which will be reviewed at a December 16 hearing.
Apple is scheduled to release the iPhone 4S in Italy and 21 other countries on Friday; pre-orders started last week. Today's ruling means that launch can go ahead as planned.
Earlier this month, Samsung filed separate preliminary injunction motions in Paris and Milan that asked the court to block the sale of the iPhone 4S in France and Italy.
"Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology. We believe it is now necessary to take legal action to protect our innovation," Samsung said in a blog post at the time.
Specifically, Samsung's complaint focused on two patent infringements related to wireless telecommunications technology, or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standards for 3G mobile handsets. "The infringed technology is essential to the reliable functioning of telecom networks and devices and Samsung believes that Apple's violation as being too severe and that the iPhone 4S should be barred from sales," Samsung said.
The Italy case is part of the larger patent battle between Samsung and Apple that kicked off in April, when Apple sued Samsung for copying the look and feel of its iPhone and iPad in its flagship Galaxy S line of devices. The battle has since expanded to about two dozen countries. Apple has already succeeded in getting the Galaxy Tab 10.1 temporarily banned in Germany and Australia.
Samsung, meanwhile, is also looking to get the iPhone 4S banned in Japan and Australia.
For more, see PCMag's full review of the iPhone 4S and the slideshow below.