In a relief to Samsung Electronics, U.S. appeals court on Friday lifted a ban on sales of its Galaxy Nexus smartphones. The court, however, upheld a lower court's decision to temporarily stop sales of its Galaxy 10.1 tablet computer.

Apple had filed a lawsuit against Samsung accusing it of copying its hot selling iPhones and iPads.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said it would temporarily stay the smartphone injunction while it considers Apple's arguments. It gave Apple a July 12 deadline to respond.

Last week U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh granted Apple a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus phone, which went on sale in the United States in mid December.

Earlier, Apple has won a court order blocking U.S. sales of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer as the companies continue their global patent dispute.

Apple and Samsung, the world's two largest consumer electronics corporations, are locked in legal battles leveling charges of patent violations at each other in a bid to out do each other in fiercely competitive smartphone market.