Apple has had an application for a permanent ban on Samsung devices in America turned down.

The iPhone and iPad maker won a $1 billion courtroom victory over its South Korean rival in August, in which a judge found that Samsung had violated several of its patents.

But as is typical in giant lawsuits of this kind that judgement wasn't the end - far from it.

The latest twist has seen Apple

As a result, the total sales ban will likely not come into force - though as before this isn't the end of the story.

Meanwhile the judge also turned down a request by Samsung for a new trial due to alleged misconduct by the jury.