One point for Samsung Electronics as it won against its biggest competitor Apple Inc on patents. The long-running case against patent infringements and market selling has created a stiff competition between the two electronic giants - the odds were in favor of Samsung this time.

A U.S. trade body decided that one of Silicon Valley's most prominent committed patent infringement against the Korean company. Apple was slapped with an import ban particularly older iPad and iPhone models sold under AT&T Inc.

The U.S. International Trade Commission is ordering a stop on the sales and imports of AT&T Apple models such as: iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G. The ban applies on a year old or older models. The exclusion orders were submitted to President Barack Obama. The president has 90 days to go over the ban and decide whether it would fully go into effect.

"We are disappointed that the commission has overturned an earlier ruling and we plan to appeal. Today's decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the United States," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet released a statement.

The ITC is the leading body governing patent lawsuits. It is also a trade panel that handles import bands and other decisions. Important bands and other verdicts are difficult to obtain from district courts thus the role of ITC for many companies.

Samsung indicated in their statement that the decision from ITC is proof that Apple has only been riding on the technological innovations by Samsung.

"Our decades of research and development in mobile technologies will continue and we will continue to offer innovative products to consumers in the United States," Samsung said in their statement.