A US International Trade Commission ruling from June 2013 banning sales of older Apple iPad and iPhone models has been overturned by the Obama administration.
The decision - which related to 3G wireless technology - has been vetoed because of its "effect on competitive conditions in the US economy", according to an administration spokesman.
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The ban came about when Samsung and Apple clashed over a Samsung patent that involved 3G, and its ability to transmit data and services simultaneously.
"Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding transport format combination indicator in CDMA mobile communication system" was the wording of the patent in question, and the ITC subsequently banned the import of telco AT&T's version of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 3G and SIM-equipped versions of the original iPad and the iPad 2.
iPhone 4 and current generation iPad models were not included because of their use of Qualcomm chips, but even this required a separate third-party licensing agreement with Samsung.
Apple said it applauded the Obama administration for "standing up for innovation", saying Samsung was "wrong to abuse the patent system this way".
Samsung's comparatively non-committal response stated that it felt the ITC's decision "correctly recognised that Samsung has been negotiating in good faith and that Apple remains unwilling to take a license."
Apple is still waiting for $598.9m in damages that a court last year ruled Samsung owed it due to infringing the company's patents.
