Judge to make ruling on Apple/Samsung next week

An Australian court on Thursday said a judgement was likely next week in technology giant Apple's patent dispute with Samsung Electronics over tablet computers. Some reports suggested a ruling could come Thursday. "I'll do it as quickly as I can. I would hope to give judgement next week," Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett told lawyers for both sides, according to Dow Jones Newswires. Apple launched legal action against the South Korean company last month, accusing it of intellectual property infringements with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, which will compete with its iconic iPad 2. The American firm is seeking a permanent ban on the sale or promotion of the latest Galaxy in Australia. Samsung disputes the claims and Bennett's comments are a small setback for the company, which had hoped to launch the tablet in Australia on Friday. However, it said it would wait for a judgement to be made before putting its product on sale. The companies are already embroiled in a patent dispute over smartphones and tablet computers in the United States, with both sides filing infringement claims against the other. Legal action is also ongoing in South Korea. However, Apple won its battle with Samsung in Germany earlier this month when a court ruled the Galaxy Tab 10.1 had copied the iPad, and banned it from sale in that country.