Qualcomm Wins Import Ban on iPhone 6s Through iPhone X in China, Apple Says All iPhone Models Remain Available

Monday December 10, 2018 6:37 am PST by Joe Rossignol
CNBC and Reuters today report that the Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court has granted Qualcomm an import ban on the iPhone 6s through iPhone X in China after the court found those devices violated two Qualcomm patents. This could result in those iPhone models being unavailable to purchase in China.


However, in a statement issued to those publications, Apple said all iPhone models remain available for customers in China:
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. 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.
The first Qualcomm patent reportedly enables users to "adjust and reformat the size and appearance of photos," while the second is said to relate to "managing applications using a touch screen when viewing and navigating apps."

Qualcomm issued the following 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. Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us. These Court orders are further confirmation of the strength of Qualcomm's vast patent portfolio.
The ruling does not apply to the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or iPhone XR, nor does it apply to iPhones running iOS 12, which is possibly why Apple says all iPhone models remain available to customers in China. Apple naturally disagrees with the ban and said it is pursuing all of its legal options through the courts.

Of note, this ruling does not appear to be related to the larger legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm over wireless modem technology in iPhones.

Tag: Qualcomm
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AngerDanger
15 months ago
Alright, everybody, we have "Something about China" to mark off.


EDIT: I re-saved this still image as a GIF so you can mark off two boxes!

Rating: 51 Votes
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Paul Simon
15 months ago
How do you import something into the country it's manufactured in? That's a head scratcher…
Rating: 36 Votes
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Jay42
15 months ago
And this is why it's so risky to do business in China. Kangaroo court, protectionist policies, rampant IP theft, the list goes on.
Rating: 22 Votes
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H2SO4
15 months ago

And this is why it's so risky to do business in China. Kangaroo court, protectionist policies, rampant IP theft, the list goes on.

Without getting too political, the west have stolen HUGE amounts from countries such as China over the years. I think their list is far longer than anything China could conjure up.
The war on those weapons of mass destruction that couldn't be found went through the highest embodiment of 'kangaroo court' in any land I'd say.
Rating: 11 Votes
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Porco
15 months ago

Alright, everybody, we have "Something about China" to mark off.


EDIT: I re-saved this still image as a GIF so you can mark off two boxes!


Oh my goodness, that might be my favourite post of yours in recent memory, and the bar was set high. The attention to detail, the self-deprecation, the simplicity worthy of Apple themselves.... Bravo sir, bravo.
Rating: 10 Votes
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pallymore
15 months ago
Also Chinese nationalists cheer because they think this is the retaliation against the arrest of Huawei's CFO.
Rating: 8 Votes
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thadoggfather
15 months ago


If you think the Apple's stock price is volatile now, just imagine what would happen if the Board of Directors made an irrational move like replacing Tim Cook.


its not irrational though. switching it up doesnt have to be a bad thing. Alienating a lot of your customer base cant be good for business, on the grounds of where they stand politically.

$1000 iPhones, $1000 ipads, $1800 macbook pros.

You have to be a prince or a descendant of one to be able to afford one of each product line at this point. Dont even get me started on international prices.

The market will respond, in an already saturated market, and certainly someone will have to be blamed for the stagnant/declining sales performance. Cant blame the customer or market forever for being 'too cheap' or picky. People still spend money somewhere.
Rating: 6 Votes
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roar08
15 months ago
And in other news, Qualcomm signs multi-year deal to supply Huawei with "special" chips.
Rating: 6 Votes
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WatchFromAfar
15 months ago

so let me try to understand this. Qualcomm sells apple modems for use in the manufacture of iPhones, then when apple installs the modems and sells them inside a phone, Qualcomm then says "you are violating our patents". Qualcomm is a bunch of scumbag patent trolls. I'm a plumber who installs plumbing systems. Imagine if my pipe supplier sued me for installing the pipe that he sold me. This lawsuit is ridiculous.

What nonsense a "patent troll" is someone who aquires a patent then sits on it producing nothing

You telling me Qualcomm produce nothing?
Rating: 6 Votes
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justperry
15 months ago


Prove it? Why not just prove it yourself and google what Apple did to Xerox, or what apple does to every supplier they use, how many times has apple announced that they will stop using a product, release a statement, and when that company's stock drops apple buys them?

Remember, just because apple doesn't lose certain court cases doesn't mean they are right, it just means they have deeper pockets.


The rules here on MR are that if you make a statement, the one about Apple stealing IP from Quallcomm and giving it to Intel, you as the OP have to prove it.

Edit: BTW, you've got that Xerox case wrong as well...
Rating: 6 Votes

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