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Apple to Stop Selling iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 Models in Germany While Appealing Broader Sales Ban [Updated]
In a statement issued to CNBC, Apple has indicated that it plans to appeal a German court's decision to issue a preliminary injunction—aka sales ban—on select iPhone models containing chips from Intel and Apple supplier Qorvo.
In the meantime, Apple said iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models will not be available for purchase at its retail stores in Germany:
In its statement, Apple said the latest iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR models remain available for purchase at all of its stores in Germany. The older iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models will also remain available for purchase at authorized resellers and carriers in Germany, according to the company.
Reuters reported that the preliminary injunction will not go into immediate effect if Apple appeals, but legal expert Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents informed MacRumors that the injunction "is enforceable even during an appeal," which perhaps explains why Apple pulled iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models from its shelves in the country.
Mueller also said the ruling applies up to the iPhone X, which Apple no longer sells in Germany, which would explain why the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR remain available for purchase in the country.
Qorvo's intellectual property lawyer Mike Baker via CNBC:
Apple continues to sell the affected iPhone models in China and believes it is in compliance with the ruling. Earlier this week, it made some minor changes in iOS 12.1.2 to address the Qualcomm patents in China, including introducing a new animation for force closing apps.
Last year, Apple accused Qualcomm of anticompetitive business practices over chip-related licensing fees, while Qualcomm has accused Apple of sharing its trade secrets with Intel among other illegal actions. In the U.S., the FTC is also taking Qualcomm to court next month over the alleged monopolistic behavior.
Update: In a press release, Qualcomm said the judgment is immediately enforceable once Qualcomm posts the necessary bonds and that Apple's request to the court for a stay of the injunction was denied. Qualcomm says the court also found Apple liable for monetary damages in an amount to be determined.
Qualcomm's general counsel Don Rosenberg issued the following statement to MacRumors:
In the meantime, Apple said iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models will not be available for purchase at its retail stores in Germany:
Qualcomm's campaign is a desperate attempt to distract from the real issues between our companies. Their tactics, in the courts and in their everyday business, are harming innovation and harming consumers. Qualcomm insists on charging exorbitant fees based on work they didn't do and they are being investigated by governments all around the world for their behavior. We are of course disappointed by this verdict and we plan to appeal. All iPhone models remain available to customers through carriers and resellers in 4,300 locations across Germany. During the appeal process, iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models will not be available at Apple's 15 retail stores in Germany. iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR will remain available in all our stores.Earlier today, reports said a German court ruled that select iPhone models containing a combination of chips from Intel and Apple supplier Qorvo violated one of Qualcomm's patents around so-called "envelope tracking," a feature that helps preserve battery life when sending and receiving wireless signals.
In its statement, Apple said the latest iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR models remain available for purchase at all of its stores in Germany. The older iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models will also remain available for purchase at authorized resellers and carriers in Germany, according to the company.
Reuters reported that the preliminary injunction will not go into immediate effect if Apple appeals, but legal expert Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents informed MacRumors that the injunction "is enforceable even during an appeal," which perhaps explains why Apple pulled iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models from its shelves in the country.
While I confirm new models not affected, Reuters is WRONG about appeal. The injunction is enforceable even during sn appeal. They misunderstood the judge.
— Florian Mueller (@FOSSpatents) December 20, 2018
The appeals court could stay enforcement of the injunction, however. And I am sure Apple will ask for it but no guarantee that the appeals court agrees.
— Florian Mueller (@FOSSpatents) December 20, 2018
Mueller also said the ruling applies up to the iPhone X, which Apple no longer sells in Germany, which would explain why the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR remain available for purchase in the country.
Qorvo's intellectual property lawyer Mike Baker via CNBC:
We believe our envelope tracking chip does not infringe the patent in suit, and the court would have come to a different conclusion if it had considered all the evidence. We're disappointed that the inventor and designer of our chip, who attended the hearing, wasn't given the opportunity to testify or present other evidence that disproves Qualcomm's claim of infringement. The International Trade Commission has already determined that our envelope tracker chip does not infringe the U.S. counterpart to the patent at issue in this case. We currently do not expect that this decision will have any impact on our business with Apple.Intel's general counsel Steven Rodgers:
Qualcomm's goal is not to vindicate its intellectual property rights, but rather to drive competition out of the market for premium modem chips, and to defend a business model that ultimately harms consumers.Apple and Qualcomm are engaged in a major legal battle spanning multiple countries, including China, where a court issued a similar preliminary injunction on select iPhones last week over two separate Qualcomm patents.
Apple continues to sell the affected iPhone models in China and believes it is in compliance with the ruling. Earlier this week, it made some minor changes in iOS 12.1.2 to address the Qualcomm patents in China, including introducing a new animation for force closing apps.
Last year, Apple accused Qualcomm of anticompetitive business practices over chip-related licensing fees, while Qualcomm has accused Apple of sharing its trade secrets with Intel among other illegal actions. In the U.S., the FTC is also taking Qualcomm to court next month over the alleged monopolistic behavior.
Update: In a press release, Qualcomm said the judgment is immediately enforceable once Qualcomm posts the necessary bonds and that Apple's request to the court for a stay of the injunction was denied. Qualcomm says the court also found Apple liable for monetary damages in an amount to be determined.
— Joe Rossignol (@rsgnl) December 20, 2018
Qualcomm's general counsel Don Rosenberg issued the following statement to MacRumors:
Two respected courts in two different jurisdictions just in the past two weeks have now confirmed the value of Qualcomm's patents and declared Apple an infringer, ordering a ban on iPhones in the important markets of Germany and China.Qualcomm expects to post the required bonds within a few days.
[ 98 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
8 months ago
It's just all good news about Apple these days. Hopefully they have inked another deal with some director I have never heard of for some original series such as "Lassie: the missing years." I need some cheering up.
8 months ago
Nice. So Apple is taking the cheaper iPhones off the market in Germany and selling only its more expensive devices with the excuse "The courts made us do it". :)
8 months ago
Qualcomm may be dicks, but they're still the best. Apple's greed for more money has done nothing but hurt consumers and cause more headache for themselves.
The Intel modems aren't bad, they're just not as good as Qualcomm's.
Intel has made lots of progress, but they still don't perform as well as Qualcomm's offerings. Not only that, but Apple throttled the Qualcomm modems to try and make the difference between them and Intel's modems not so obvious.
Now with the newest product they don't even offer a Qualcomm option.
This all hurts consumers. They're stuck with lower-performing modems, or with a device that simply cannot maintain a connection with the same coverage they had before. At the same time, Apple has also increased the price of their top iPhone models by over 50%.
If Apple had just stuck with Qualcomm, the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 7 would all have MUCH better modems. They'd all be Qualcomm, they wouldn't be as throttled, and they'd all have the best possible signal and connection.
But nope. Apple obviously needed more money. They spent less on components and raised prices - all the while crying about how much Qualcomm charges.
The Intel modems aren't bad, they're just not as good as Qualcomm's.
Intel has made lots of progress, but they still don't perform as well as Qualcomm's offerings. Not only that, but Apple throttled the Qualcomm modems to try and make the difference between them and Intel's modems not so obvious.
Now with the newest product they don't even offer a Qualcomm option.
This all hurts consumers. They're stuck with lower-performing modems, or with a device that simply cannot maintain a connection with the same coverage they had before. At the same time, Apple has also increased the price of their top iPhone models by over 50%.
If Apple had just stuck with Qualcomm, the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 7 would all have MUCH better modems. They'd all be Qualcomm, they wouldn't be as throttled, and they'd all have the best possible signal and connection.
But nope. Apple obviously needed more money. They spent less on components and raised prices - all the while crying about how much Qualcomm charges.
8 months ago
Nice. So Apple is taking the cheaper iPhones off the market in Germany and selling only its more expensive devices with the excuse "The courts made us do it". :)
No, not an excuse. Apple is complying with the law.
People are free to purchase or not purchase phones that are not subject to the court's order.
8 months ago
Qualcomm may be dicks, but they're still the best. Apple's greed for more money has done nothing but hurt consumers and cause more headache for themselves.
The Intel modems aren't bad, they're just not as good as Qualcomm's.
Intel has made lots of progress, but they still don't perform as well as Qualcomm's offerings. Not only that, but Apple throttled the Qualcomm modems to try and make the difference between them and Intel's modems not so obvious.
Now with the newest product they don't even offer a Qualcomm option.
This all hurts consumers. They're stuck with lower-performing modems, or with a device that simply cannot maintain a connection with the same coverage they had before. At the same time, Apple has also increased the price of their top iPhone models by over 50%.
If Apple had just stuck with Qualcomm, the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 7 would all have MUCH better modems. They'd all be Qualcomm, they wouldn't be as throttled, and they'd all have the best possible signal and connection.
But nope. Apple obviously needed more money. They spent less on components and raised prices - all the while crying about how much Qualcomm charges.
Or,....just maybe they are fed up with Qualcomm unfair pricing/shady practices.
8 months ago
It’s laughable that Apple is making money hand over fist ...but claims that “Qualcomm’s business model would harm consumers”.
Like what we are supposed to believe that Apple would lower prices, as opposed to taking the money right into profits.
Sorry but Apple man up and don’t hide behind “consumers” in this battle of the bigwigs.
Like what we are supposed to believe that Apple would lower prices, as opposed to taking the money right into profits.
Sorry but Apple man up and don’t hide behind “consumers” in this battle of the bigwigs.
8 months ago
Remember when Apple introduced and started selling a new phone, they would phase out the older model within weeks? Hawkeye_a remembers.
Now they continue selling three year old models alongside new ones.
8 months ago
They really need to figure this crap out because this is getting worse by the day. From what I understand Qualcomm was charging unreasonable amounts for FRAND patents and Apple got pissed and now doesn't want to pay them anything. Bunch of companies acting like children—which seems to be a popular trend among many adults in our society lately. Qualcomm needs to get paid, Qualcomm needs to charge a fair amount for a standards patent, Apple need to pay it, end of story. It's not worth it to go thermonuclear when you could end up wrecking your worldwide sales—especially at a time where they seem to be in a weaker position than usual.
8 months ago
Remember when Apple introduced and started selling a new phone, they would phase out the older model within weeks? Hawkeye_a remembers.
Now they continue selling three year old models alongside new ones.
Now they continue selling three year old models alongside new ones.
[ Read All Comments ]
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