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Qualcomm Accuses Apple of Stealing LTE Modem Trade Secrets and Giving Them to Intel [Updated]
Qualcomm has accused Apple of stealing confidential information and trade secrets, and passing them on to rival chipmaker Intel, according to a court document filed Monday and reported by several media outlets.
For background, Qualcomm agreed that Apple could have access to its source code and tools for LTE modems, but with limitations. Qualcomm believes that Apple proceeded to share the information with Intel to help improve its LTE modems, allowing Apple to stop using Qualcomm's modems in the latest iPhones.
Axios's Ina Fried shared an excerpt from Qualcomm's complaint:
Don Rosenberg, General Counsel of Qualcomm, in a statement provided to MacRumors:
iFixit's teardown of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max uncovered an Intel modem in both devices, a few months after Qualcomm said Apple was unlikely to use its own modems in the latest iPhones. Qualcomm was Apple's exclusive provider of modems until Intel was added as a second supplier for the iPhone 7 lineup.
Update: MacRumors has obtained a copy of Qualcomm's motion, embedded below.
For background, Qualcomm agreed that Apple could have access to its source code and tools for LTE modems, but with limitations. Qualcomm believes that Apple proceeded to share the information with Intel to help improve its LTE modems, allowing Apple to stop using Qualcomm's modems in the latest iPhones.
Axios's Ina Fried shared an excerpt from Qualcomm's complaint:
Although discovery is ongoing, it is clear that Apple's conduct went far beyond simply breaching the contract originally sued on. Indeed, it is now apparent Apple engaged in a years-long campaign of false promises, stealth and subterfuge designed to steal Qualcomm's confidential information and trade secrets for the purpose of improving the performance of lower-quality modem chipsets, with the ultimate goal of eliminating Qualcomm's Apple-based business.Qualcomm already sued Apple in November 2017 based on suspicions the iPhone maker was using the chipmaker's trade secrets in wrongful ways. Now, Qualcomm is more confident and direct about its accusation.
Don Rosenberg, General Counsel of Qualcomm, in a statement provided to MacRumors:
Once again Apple has flouted its contractual commitments and misappropriated Qualcomm's property rights in an effort to improve its performance and increase its profits.The lawsuit is scheduled to be heard in April 2019, but Qualcomm's proposed amendment could delay the trial, which is one of over a dozen lawsuits waged between the two companies. Apple initially sued Qualcomm in June 2017 for $1 billion in unpaid royalties, and later for patent infringement.
The code, tools and design details of Qualcomm's modem technology which are the subjects of this litigation represent the genius and labors of our dedicated engineers. We have only the rule of law to protect them.
iFixit's teardown of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max uncovered an Intel modem in both devices, a few months after Qualcomm said Apple was unlikely to use its own modems in the latest iPhones. Qualcomm was Apple's exclusive provider of modems until Intel was added as a second supplier for the iPhone 7 lineup.
Update: MacRumors has obtained a copy of Qualcomm's motion, embedded below.
Qualcomm Filing Accusing Ap... by on Scribd
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3 weeks ago
Qualcomm seems like such a petty, vengeful company. "Oh, you're not going to use our products anymore? We'll bury you in nuisance lawsuits!!!"
I'm glad Apple dropped them; hopefully others see how toxic they are and drop them too, though most companies don't have the resources to fight these lawsuits like Apple does.
Or they're a company who spent billions on their technology and want to see it protected. If Apple can sue someone for copying their rounded corners on a phone then I don't see why it's out of bounds for Qualcomm to sue for something of actual value.
3 weeks ago
Too bad intel couldn’t make sense of the stolen information. Their chips still suck.
3 weeks ago
Or they're a company who has spent billions on their technology and want to see it protected. If Apple can sue someone for copying their rounded corners on a phone then I don't see why it's out of bounds for Qualcomm to sue for something of actual value.
Exactly. Are the folks here thinking that apple is a saint? Apple is quick to sue others - example fixing etc and definitely sues others for intellectual property. So why is it wrong for them to be sued when they do the very same thing they accuse others of?
3 weeks ago
Qualcomm seems like such a petty, vengeful company. "Oh, you're not going to use our products anymore? We'll bury you in nuisance lawsuits!!!"
I'm glad Apple dropped them; hopefully others see how toxic they are and drop them too, though most companies don't have the resources to fight these lawsuits like Apple does.
I'm glad Apple dropped them; hopefully others see how toxic they are and drop them too, though most companies don't have the resources to fight these lawsuits like Apple does.
3 weeks ago
Seems they don't want to be a viable company anymore, because spouting shizzle like that - even if it were true - is suicidal.
3 weeks ago
I think I see how this works, regardless of the facts, a bunch of folk are gonna get their panties in a twist and accuse the nasty people of trying to rob their precious Apple.. even if Apple were in fact to blame. That's irrelevant , they will defend them as if it were their own child... I'll just have a quick look at the comments to see how my theory pans out... :-)
3 weeks ago
Queue all the comments of people claiming that the Intel basebands are just as good as Qualcomm, while I watch my iPhone 7 drop calls left and right, that my 6S never did.
Even with access to the Cliffnotes, Intel couldn't produce a chip for the XS that doesn't perform more poorly than Qualcomm's previous gen stuff in the X.
Even with access to the Cliffnotes, Intel couldn't produce a chip for the XS that doesn't perform more poorly than Qualcomm's previous gen stuff in the X.
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