A U.S. court ruled in favor of Apple in its patent battle with Samsung Electronics and ordered the South Korean company to stop using software in the U.S. that helps mobile phones infringe on those patents. Samsung has to stop making, using, selling, developing or designing software or code that helps its products infringe on three patents related to mobile-phone features such as autocorrect, slide-to-unlock and data detection, according to the order by the U.S. District Court in San Jose.

The court's ruling affects software or code used in older Samsung models such as the Galaxy S II, S III and Note smartphones.

Enforcement of the order will begin in 30 days, the court said.

However, the latest move will only have a minimal impact on Samsung's mobile business because most of the models to be banned are old. On the other hand, it allows Apple to go back to the judge and argue that Samsung's newer devices still infringe on its patents.

Apple won a U.S. appeals court ruling in September that could have consequences for how disputes are resolved when it comes to complex devices and may help patent owners limit copying by rivals. The ability to block use of an invention is a tool that increases the price tag when the creator negotiates settlements.