Apple has won a court order blocking US sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1″ tablet as Reuters reports Judge Koh has granted the Cupertino-based company’s request to block sales. Details are a little vague at the moment, but we know it’s a preliminary injunction — meaning that if Samsung eventually wins the case, the injunction will lift and sales will immediately resume.

According to All Things D, who received a copy of the Judge’s order, Apple was granted the injunction due to the strength and merits of their case providing that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is “virtually indistinguishable” from the iPad’s design. Furthermore, Judge Koh ruled that because Apple and Samsung are direct competitors in the tablet space and “design mattered more to customers in making tablet purchases,” Apple could be irreparably harmed by Tab 10.1 sales. These two factors outweighed any hardship suffered by Samsung, leading to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 injunction.

As of this morning, Samsung has already filed an appeal, taking just five hours to do so after the Judge’s order came down.

Engadget, All Things D