A US judge has determined that Samsung's tablets infringe patents owned by Apple.
She has, however, insisted that Apple, the firm behind the iPhone and iPad wireless communication devices, needs to prove the validity of those patents if it is to secure an injunction blocking the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab.
Apple spokeswoman Kristen Huget commented: "It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad.
"This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas."
The ruling marks the conclusion of the latest round of infringement disputes, with both firms trying to assume the moral high-ground since the issue first arose in April.
Last week, crowds of gadget lovers queued up outside Apple stores around the world to get their hands on the manufacturer's latest handset, the iPhone 4S.
Indeed, the new handset is the most popular product in the firm's history in pre-order sales, reaching one million in a single day.
Posted by Simon Jones