The Obama administration has vetoed a U.S. trade body's ban on the sale of some Apple iPhones and iPads.
The decision is a rare move that upends a legal victory for smartphone rival Samsung Electronics Co.
According to Fox News, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman made the decision to veto the ban on the Apple devices, citing concerns about patent holders gaining undue leverage.
Froman said that Samsung could continue to pursue its patent rights through the courts, the report said.
The action marked the first time since 1987 that a presidential administration had vetoed a product ban ordered by the U.S. International Trade Commission.
The report said that the ITC had ordered the ban on some older-model Apple iPhones and iPads in June after finding the products infringed a Samsung patent.