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Vodafone sought an injunction in Germany that would prevent Apple's partner, T-Mobile, from selling the iPhone while tied exclusively to T-Mobile's service.

While AT&T locked up the rights to sell Apple's iPhone and tie it to AT&T's network, T-Mobile may have some problems making the same sweet deal in Germany.

Vodafone requested a temporary injunction against T-Mobile to prevent it from selling the iPhone. T-Mobile had been selling Apple's hot gadget since early in November.

But a Bloomberg report said, in Vodafone's interpretation of local laws, T-Mobile cannot sell a locked device to German consumers. A Vodafone spokesperson said in the report they want a court to "clarify whether it's legal to sell a device that is linked exclusively to one phone company."

A court in Hamburg issued the injunction as Vodafone requested, CNNMoney said.

Apple has been engaged in a running battle with hackers who have attempted to unlock the iPhone in the US for use on T-Mobile's network. Developers also want to be able to write applications for the closed iPhone platform, something Apple plans to permit when it issues a software development kit for iPhone early next year.

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