Qualcomm Claims Apple Remains in Violation of Chinese Court Order Despite Software Update

Apple and Qualcomm have found yet another thing to disagree over in their long-running feud.

Earlier this month that a Chinese court ruled that Apple had infringed on two of Qualcomm’s software patents, and ordered an immediate halt on sales of all iPhone models from the 6S to the X. Apple has filed an appeal against the decision, and carried out a software update for these phones “to address any possible concern about our compliance with the order”.

Apple is currently embroiled in an ongoing global dispute with chipmaker Qualcomm, of which the court order is just one of a dozen lawsuits.

As promised, Apple unleashed iOS 12.1.2 this week, which brings with it eSIM support, bug fixes and — most importantly — changes to tackle the patents involved with Qualcomm’s ongoing legal battle.

Now, according to a new report from Reuters, chipmaker Qualcomm claims Apple remains in violation of a Chinese court’s orders to stop selling iPhones despite a software update that the firm pushed out on Monday.



“Despite Apple’s efforts to downplay the significance of the order and its claims of various ways it will address the infringement, Apple apparently continues to flout the legal system by violating the injunctions,” Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm’s general counsel, told Reuters in a statement late last night.

Rosenburg added that yesterday’s software update was a “deliberate attempt to obfuscate and misdirect” the court order and that it must stop selling phones immediately.

Legal representation for Apple argued in its appeal last week that continuing to sell the iPhone models does not constitute “irreparable harm” to Qualcomm, a key factor included in the court’s injunction. It added that stopping sales would impact its Chinese suppliers, consumers and the tax revenue it pays to authorities.

Last week, Apple warned that banning iPhones in China could have serious consequences for both the company and the local economy, with the Cupertino-based tech giant reminding that it created 5 million jobs locally.