Score: Verizon Wireless up by one.

A federal judge just rejected AT&T's (NYSE: T) request to have Verizon Wireless yank ads comparing the two carriers' 3G coverage, which means the rivals are likely to face off at a preliminary court hearing on Dec. 16.

AT&T had requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) that would require Verizon to stop airing the five holiday-themed ads until the issue was settled in court -- but lost this first legal battle.

The legal tussle began earlier this month when AT&T filed a lawsuit in a federal district court in Atlanta claiming that Verizon's ad campaign was misleading.

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