First U.S. Jury Trial Begins Today in Apple-Qualcomm Legal Battle

In July 2017, Qualcomm filed suit against Apple in San Diego federal court, accusing the iPhone maker of infringing on six U.S. patents related to graphics processing architecture, power consumption, and envelope tracking technologies. Nearly two years later, the case is finally headed to trial.

apple v qualcomm
The trial begins today with jury selection, with proceedings expected to take up to two weeks. It will be the first time a U.S. jury is involved in the major legal battle between the two companies, according to Bloomberg.

The legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm spans multiple countries. The dispute began in January 2017 when Apple sued Qualcomm for an alleged $1 billion in unpaid royalty rebates, just days after an FTC complaint alleged that Qualcomm engaged in anticompetitive patent licensing practices.

Qualcomm has countersued, alleging that its "innovations are at the heart of every iPhone" and "enable the most important uses and features of those devices," adding that it "simply is untrue that Qualcomm is seeking to collect royalties for Apple innovations that have nothing to do with Qualcomm's technology."

Last week, analysts at investment bank Barclays said that Qualcomm is seemingly "running out" of time to reach a settlement with Apple if it wants to win 5G modems orders for the first 5G-enabled iPhones, expected in 2020.

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Top Rated Comments

0947347 Avatar
88 months ago
Is it just me, or is this pointless.
Pointless time and money wasting. With all that what will go to it, they could build a few hospitals instead and actually being useful.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazard Avatar
88 months ago
These companies could have both saved so much money if they had just been able to compromise.
Since when has Apple ever compromised?
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Except that if Qualcomm wins then iPhone cost more. You have it backwards.
Apple hasn't been paying Qualcomm royalties for 2 years, yet the prices of their phones haven't decreased.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
12vElectronics Avatar
88 months ago
Wait, Qualcomm is suing Apple yet wants a purchase order from them in future iPhones? Lol
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Khedron Avatar
88 months ago
What’s your point exactly? You are seriously claiming that apple will raise prices if they beat Qualcomm? Because that’s where this conversation began. That’s a lame theory.
Of course they will raise prices, they'll do that anyway. And if they beat Qualcomm they get to keep even more of that increased price as profit.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
abrantes09 Avatar
88 months ago
Is it just me, or is this pointless.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacknTosh Avatar
88 months ago
What’s the chance that they will actually get a jury that is capable of following what I’m sure will be detailed explanations using technical terms of various patents. I’d hate to be involved!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)