Apple Escapes
iPhone Import Ban in Second Qualcomm Case
Apple Inc. escaped a
possible import ban of its iconic iPhone after a U.S. trade agency rejected a
patent-infringement claim filed by Qualcomm Inc. in the second of two cases
before the U.S. International Trade Commission.
A Qualcomm patent for a
battery-saving feature is invalid, the commission said in a notice on its website. The decision sidesteps an argument
over whether an import ban would curb Intel’s move into the market for modem
chips and give foreign competitors a lead in fifth-generation wireless
technology.
The decision came just hours
after a separate ITC judge said Apple infringed a different Qualcomm patent.
That case also is subject to review by the full commission, which is expected to complete that investigation by July.
Apple
Says It’s Pleased with Patent Decision against Qualcomm
Here is Apple
Inc.’s statement on Tuesday, 26 March 2019 ruling from
the U.S. International Trade Commission, which invalidated one Qualcomm Inc .patent after a judge in a separate case at the agency said Apple
infringed on another:
We’re pleased the
ITC has found Qualcomm’s latest patent claims invalid. It’s
another important step to making sure American companies are able to compete fairly
in the marketplace. Qualcomm is using these cases to distract from having to answer
for the real issues, their monopolistic business practices. They
are being investigated by governments around the world for their behavior,
and we look forward to detailing the many ways they’re harming consumers and stifling
innovation when we present our case in San Diego next month.