Apple removes iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 from its German stores after patent judgment

Apple is withdrawing the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 from its 15 stores in Germany. The company is doing so after it lost a patent suit filed by Qualcomm. According to the ruling, a chip in the iPhones infringes a hardware patent from Qualcomm.

Specifically, it concerns chips for wireless communications from Apple’s supplier Qorvo, which infringe Qualcomm’s patents on envelope tracking technology. The technology makes efficient use of energy possible, for example by adapting the supply to throughput speeds. Apple is infringing Qualcomm’s patents with iPhones that have the chips in question, the Munich district court has ruled. The iPhone Xr and Xs are not covered by the ruling.

The verdict gives Qualcomm the opportunity to stop selling the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8 and 8 Plus and withdraw already sold iPhone X models from the market. For this, Qualcomm must provide a guarantee of 668.4 million euros per part of the ruling, writes the Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung. It is not yet known whether Qualcomm will do that.

Apple must also pay Qualcomm compensation. The Cupertino company is disappointed and is appealing the verdict. It is Qualcomm’s second win over Apple in patent litigation in two weeks. Last week, it was granted a request in China to ban iPhone sales. Apple is trying to get out of this with an iOS update, among other things.

“Qualcomm’s campaign is a desperate attempt to distract from the real problems between our companies,” Apple said, calling the tactics bad for innovation and consumers. The company emphasizes that all iPhone models will remain available in Germany, except for the iPhone 7 and 8 in its own stores, as long as the appeal lasts.