2012.

The decision conflicted with an undertaking made by Samsung to the court early in September, in which it agreed not to launch the tablet until the scheduled interlocutory hearings this week.

The undertaking was set to expire on Thursday with Samsung looking to launch the tablet on Friday, September 30.

Samsung's lead barrister David Catterns SC agreed to carry on the undertaking into next week, pending the interlocutory judgment.

It was the third in a set of delays that had shifted the launch date for the tablet in Australia from initial plans for an August 11 release this year.

However, further delays were expected as the South Korean manufacturer continued to reduce the functionality of the tablet to avoid further patent infringement cases.

Apple had initially taken action on the alleged infringement ofmanufacturer first launched the Galaxy-branded smartphone.

In an affidavit tendered from Apple's chief patent lawyer Richard Lutton, discussions had begun as soon as Apple saw products which bore "a striking resemblance to Apple's own iPhone products".

Despite the closed-door talks, Lutton said in the affidavit that Apple had come to the realisation Samsung would not cease its infringement of the iPad maker's patents in March this year, a month before Apple began the first of several global proceedings in California.

In a surprise move, Samsung requested Lutton to the stand during the hearing's afternoon session.

During questioning, Lutton confirmed former Apple chief executive Steve Jobs had initiated the talks with Samsung in July last year.

Jobs was not personally involved in the negotiations, he said.

"Samsung's an important supplier and a company with whom