US Commission Investigates Qualcomm Complaint That Apple Infringed Patents patent
Officials from the US International Trade Commission will investigate Qualcomm’s complaint that Apple allegedly infringed patents in the production of the iPhone 7.
The trade commission says it will complete the investigation as soon as possible. Within 45 days of the start of the investigation, the committee will communicate an end date for the investigation. Qualcomm wants a US import ban on iPhones with an Intel modem, and that Apple should no longer conduct marketing and sales activities in the US about iPhones and iPads that use cellular baseband processors that do not come from Qualcomm. The chipmaker also wants to force a sales stop of the iPhone in Germany.
Qualcomm filed a petition with the US International Trade Commission in early July to launch an investigation into Apple’s alleged patent infringement. According to chipmaker Qualcomm, Apple uses six patents in iPhones that the Cupertino company does not have a license for. Qualcomm didn’t say that Intel’s modems infringe on Qualcomm’s patents, just the way Apple uses them in the iPhone 7.
Anyone who purchases modems from Qualcomm automatically receives a license to the patents. Apple previously made a legal objection to the bundling of a product, the modem, and the licenses. The company started the case in January by filing a lawsuit against Qualcomm. The iPhone maker argues that Qualcomm abuses its dominant position, partly because manufacturers who purchase Qualcomm modems do not have to pay license fees. Apple wants some patents declared invalid.
Manufacturers who make iPhone parts are also involved in the legal battle. In July, it was announced that Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron and Compal Electronics had filed suit against Qualcomm for violating US competition rules. The indictment is in response to a case brought by Qualcomm against Taiwanese manufacturers of iPhone components. Apple would have ordered the manufacturers to stop paying license fees to the chip designer.