China's ban on iPhone may push Apple and Qualcomm towards settlement
Qualcomm has scored a win in its legal battle over Apple, as the Chinese court issued a preliminary order of banning the sale and imports of select iPhones in China. Apple has already disputed the ban and said that it only implies on iPhones that are running on older operating systems.
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Looking at the market share, Apple lost 2 per cent on Monday, which later went on to become positive, whereas the shares of Qualcomm rose 3 per cent. Apple's stock is already down 26 per cent this quarter.
Apple said in a statement, "Qualcomm’s effort to ban our products is another desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world". It further added, "All iPhone models remain available for our customers in China. Qualcomm is asserting three patents they had never raised before, including one which has already been invalidated. We will pursue all our legal options through the courts”.
Apple says that the patent in question only affects iOS 11 that works in iPhones and iPads, which were launched in 2017. The iPhones that are sold today come with iOS 12 that happens to be a new version of the software that was launched in September.
The Chinese Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court granted two preliminary injunctions against four Apple subsidiaries in China that relate to two Qualcomm patents, which lets users adjust and reformat the appearance and size of photos and manage apps using the touchscreen while viewing and navigating apps on their handsets. Apple says that it does not violate the patent in question as the current devices sold by the company come with iOS 12 operating system.
Qualcomm went on to say in a statement, "We deeply value our relationships with customers, rarely resorting to the courts for assistance, but we also have an abiding belief in the need to protect intellectual property rights.”
This happens to be just one of the wars between Apple and Qualcomm, as the chip maker has asked the US courts for a similar ban.
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