Vodafone has suspended pre-orders for the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the UK following Tuesday's court ruling in Germany which blocked its sale in the European Union. 

"We're aware of legal proceedings between Apple and Samsung in Germany in connection with the Galaxy Tab 10.1. We're in discussions with Samsung about the position in the UK. In the meantime, we will be suspending pre-orders and contacting customers who have already placed orders. We will update our customers as soon as possible," a spokesman for the operator exclusively told Pocket-lint. 

Samsung UK, who has vowed to fight the ruling brought to the courts by Apple, has yet to fully confirm what it plans to do, releasing a non committal statement on Tuesday. Although, a statement on the company's US website, has now been issued:

"It should be noted that this order does not permanently prevent the sale of the GALAXY Tab 10.1 in Europe, but is a temporary measure imposed by the court until the patent claim is heard. Also, products already distributed to German retailers following the launch on August 5 are not affected by this injunction."

As the injunction doesn't appear to cover stock already on the shelves, it's likely that the Galaxy Tab will still be available to buy - if you can find one. 

It's a situation that seems to have left many of the UK's biggest retailers confused. Best Buy and John Lewis both declined to comment - for "legal reasons" - when Pocket-lint asked them whether they would be pulling their remaining stock from the shelves. 

The Dixons Store Group (DSG), who owns PC World and Curry's in the UK, was slightly more forthcoming with its position. A spokesman for the company told Pocket-lint:

"We have had no legal instruction to remove the Samsung Galaxy Tab from sale."

Vodafone tells us that those customers that have pre-ordered the tablet should be informed shortly of the situation. 

Apple is, meanwhile, sticking with the line that it is merely protecting its intellectual property:

"It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas," said the company in a statement given to Pocket-lint.

- Galaxy Tab 10.1: Samsung's options in Apple battle