Even after U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh ordered Samsung to pay Apple approximately $1 billion in damages this past August, industry insiders insisted that there would be several more chapters in the pair's infamous infringement dispute. However, now that Koh has dismissed a number of intervening motions, the smartphone patent wars may be at least one step closer to their conclusion.

Following the August decision, Samsung requested a mistrial after new details regarding a juror came to light. Apple then responded in turn by placing several additional Samsung products on the list of mobile gadgets it believes should be banned. This week, Koh ruled that neither maneuver held merit.

According to PCWorld, Apple's push for permanent injunction was ultimately denied when the company failed to demonstrate that significant sales revenue was lost as a direct consequence of Samsung's actions. As a result, the infringing goods will be subject to the previously agreed upon monetary penalties - but not an outright ban.

Just a day after Koh's ruling, Samsung decided to abandon parallel litigation which sought a ban on Apple products across five European nations. Samsung said its decision was in the interest of "protecting consumer choice." However, according to The New York Times, sources close to the matter suggested that the company only abandoned the action upon the suggestion of European Commission regulators.