Smartphone makers post 2 key victories

SAN FRANCISCO — The world’s top two smartphone makers have each scored significant victories on different continents that will enable Apple and Samsung to keep selling their products without legal interference this holiday season.

Late Monday, a federal judge in San Jose, Calif., rejected Apple Inc.’s demands to block U.S. sales of three smartphones made by Samsung Electronics Corp. The ruling came weeks after a jury found that Samsung infringed six Apple patents.

Hours later, Samsung announced it was dropping its demands that several European countries prohibit sales of Apple smartphones that Samsung claims infringe its patents. As a result, Apple phone sales will continue in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the Netherlands.