It was announced yesterday that Apple was successfully granted a preliminary injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. The injunction forces the South Korea electronics company to halt all sales of their tablet in the United States giving Apple yet another edge in the technology sphere. Only last month, Samsung unveiled their updated Galaxy Tab 10.1 II model.

Cue the outrage from Apple naysayers. Many feel that California-based technology conglomerate is wielding their patent power too liberally and that the courts granted the injunction too easily. Some believe that the ruling is outrageous because of what the patent is actually for. The patent in question, D504,889 refers to the aesthetic design of the product, not the technology used by the product. The Galaxy Tab runs on Google’s Android OS. Critics and champions of the product alike see the two tablets as indistinguishable.

The injunction initially came at the heels of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 release last year and was initially denied the request. At the urging of the Federal Appeals court, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of San Jose, California took another look at the tech giant’s case and found that it had some merit. She said in a statement released yesterday, “Although Samsung has a right to compete, it does not have a right to compete unfairly, by flooding the market with infringing products.”

Apple is arguably the biggest and best gadget producer with the highest brand-name recognition in the game. With an already commanding 63% share of the tablet market, the injunction seems to be a strategic move by the popular iPod and Macbook producer’s dominance, as any advantage helps and many see the Galaxy as the iPad’s preeminent rival. Tablet production looks to be an enormous source of growth for many tech companies and the case could have a significant bearing on Microsoft and Google who have already revealed plans for their respective tablets.

Naturally Samsung intends to appeal. They released a statement saying “Should Apple continue to make legal claims based on such a generic design patent, design innovation and progress in the industry could be restricted.”

So what does this mean for you tablet hounds and tech junkies? Simply put, you cannot buy the Galaxy 10.1 or send one to someone outside of the U.S. But fret not, devout Galaxy 10.1 user. Lucky for you, the upcoming Galaxy 10.1 II is exempt from the case due to its original design. But if you’re looking to buck the trend and purchase a Galaxy 10.1, a quick Google Search will show that the tablet is still for sale on the likes of Amazon and eBay, though don’t expect that to last much longer.

Here’s some food for thought: Is this the emergence of a monopoly on the tablet market? Keep in mind that monopolies aren’t illegal per se; they’re only illegal when they hinder the growth and expansion of other companies. Apple opponents feel that the generic-nature of the patent does exactly that.