Apple didn’t violate patents owned by Samsung Electronics in making the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad, a judge at the International Trade Commission said in a preliminary ruling on Friday, as reported by “Reuters” (http://macte.ch/17F8M).

ITC Judge James Gildea said on Friday that Apple didn’t violate the four patents in the case. Samsung had accused Apple of infringement in a complaint filed in mid-2011. The full commission is due to decide whether to uphold or overturn its internal judge’s decision in January, notes “Reuters.”

This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents. For example, Apple alleges that Samsung copied the slide-to-unlock technology of its iPhone and iPad devices.