Qualcomm Seeks Import Ban on AT&T and T-Mobile iPhone 8 and iPhone X Models

Qualcomm today announced that it has filed three new patent infringement claims against Apple, accusing the Cupertino company of violating a total of 16 Qualcomm patents with its most recent iPhones, including the iPhone X.

Most of the patents in question cover technologies like carrier aggregation, memory designs, and power management features that are designed help to reduce battery usage, but in one claim, Qualcomm says Apple is using a depth-based image enhancement technique for Portrait mode that violates a Qualcomm patent.

qualcomm iphone 7
Qualcomm is also filing a new complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) concerning five of the patents, and it is asking the ITC to ban imports of iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models that use chips from Intel, aka AT&T and T-Mobile devices in the United States.

The complaint with the ITC follows a previous filing in July that saw Qualcomm ask for an import ban on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models equipped with Intel modem chips, along with some iPad models. Qualcomm has not asked for a ban on iPhones that use Qualcomm LTE chips, with the reasoning that a more limited exclusion order is more likely to be granted.

In the lawsuit, Qualcomm once again says its inventions form the "very core" of "modern mobile communication," and that without Qualcomm technology, Apple products "would lose much of their consumer appeal."

Qualcomm is seeking damages in an amount to be proven at trial, a permanent injunction against Apple, and attorneys fees.

Qualcomm's latest filing follows a countersuit from Apple that was filed earlier this week. Apple claims that Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips infringe on "at least" eight battery life patents owned by Apple.

The legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm kicked off in January of this year, and it has escalated rapidly over the course of the last several months. It is not clear if the ITC will agree to investigate the claims Qualcomm has made against Apple, but this will be a legal battle that spans several years, so Apple devices are in no danger of being banned anytime soon.

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Top Rated Comments

dominiongamma Avatar
101 months ago
Apple should have never done business with this sleazy company
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fmalloy Avatar
101 months ago
Apple should have never done business with this sleazy company
Sleazy because it's not Apple.

How DARE someone else make money from developing the technology for the Anointed Almighty God Steve Jobs' phone!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Duane Martin Avatar
101 months ago
Well with Qualcomm current market cap sitting at around $97 billion and it's valuation being a bit low on the tech side with good dividends being paid Apple should just buy the company and absorb all of the patents. Let Qualcomm continue to do what they do but without all the litigation. I mean, if I had $97 billion laying around that's exactly what I would do.

Of course, that kind of thinking is probably one of the reasons I don't happen to have $97 billion laying around.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dominiongamma Avatar
101 months ago
Sleazy because it's not Apple.

How DARE someone else make money from developing the technology for the Anointed Almighty God Steve Jobs' phone!
When they were trying to cheat Apple it’s sleazy
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
101 months ago
How many times are they gonna try this?

Increasingly glad I dont have the scummy co’s radio in my X or 7+ :P
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Williesleg Avatar
101 months ago
Can't we just get Little Timmy Cook and Qualcomm to hug it out? I mean he's gotta be good for something, new products and decent security patches ain't it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)