The Obama administration has vetoed a product ban on older Apple devices that was proposed by the U.S. International Trade Commission in June. Apple was found guilty of infringing a Samsung wireless patent, and the ITC declared a sales ban on iOS devices older than the iPhone 4S and third-gen iPad.
Trade Representative Michael Froman issued the veto for the executive branch today, marking the first time a presidential administration has vetoed a product ban by the ITC since 1987.
The only devices that were truly affected by the ban were the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4, since Apple still sells those models. They likely won’t be sold for much longer anyway, but the president’s decision to veto supports Apple’s argument that the ITC’s proposed ban was unjustified.
“We applaud the Administration for standing up for innovation in this landmark case,” said Apple in a statement to AllThingsD. “Samsung was wrong to abuse the patent system in this way.” Samsung said it was “disappointed” in the veto and that Apple was unwilling to license the patent.
Source: AllThingsD
Image: Flickr