“Qualcomm Inc wants to hit Apple Inc where it hurts most: iPhone sales in China – one of its biggest global markets where most of its flagship smartphones are made,” Adam Jourdan and Matthew Miller report for Reuters. “The U.S. chipmaker’s legal gambit to ban sales and manufacturing of iPhones could cripple global supply of Apple’s most important product, legal experts say, but many believe Qualcomm faces a stiff battle to get there.”
“Instead, Qualcomm may be looking to frustrate the tech giant through a lengthy legal fight that could last years in China as it seeks to gain leverage in the firms’ global standoff over royalty payments it demands, intellectual property lawyers said,” Jourdan and Miller report. “Qualcomm said this week it had filed the suits in Beijing’s intellectual property court, claiming patent infringement against Apple.”
“Apple suppliers employ hundreds of thousands of people in China, so authorities may be wary of hitting jobs with a ban on production,” Jourdan and Miller report. “More to the point, lawyers said it was unlikely either firm would allow the case to get to an injunction, speculating that Qualcomm’s main aim was to increase its leverage over Apple at the negotiating table over any final settlement.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Put down the pipe, Qualcomm.
Stop the FRAND abuse. Come to the table and be prepared to settle for realistic royalties. You’ve riding the Apple gravy train for far too long. The jig is up.
Qualcomm’s FRAND abuse must not stand. Qualcomm’s licensing scam — charging a percentage of the total cost of all components in the phone, even non-Qualcomm components — is unreasonable, illogical, and irrational.
SEE ALSO:
Qualcomm files lawsuits seeking China iPhone ban, escalating Apple legal fight – October 13, 2017
Qualcomm fined record $773 million in Taiwan antitrust probe – October 11, 2017
Apple faces down Qualcomm, Ericsson over EU patent fees – October 2, 2017
Qualcomm loses two key rulings in its patent royalty fight with Apple – September 21, 2017
Apple’s A11 Bionic obliterates top chips from Qualcomm, Samsung and Huawei – September 18, 2017
U.S. judge rules Apple lawsuits against Qualcomm can proceed – September 8, 2017
Qualcomm CEO expects out of court settlement with Apple – July 18, 2017
Apple-Qualcomm legal dispute likely to be ‘long and ugly’ – July 7, 2017
Qualcomm wants court to block Apple from U.S. iPhone imports and sales – July 6, 2017
Judge rules U.S. FTC antitrust lawsuit against Qualcomm to proceed – June 27, 2017
Apple uses Supreme Court decision to escalate war against Qualcomm – June 20, 2017
Apple’s amended San Diego complaint against Qualcomm leaves no doubt: many billions at stake – June 20, 2017
Apple rejects Qualcomm’s allegation of throttling iPhones, says ‘study’ is ‘methodologically unsound’ – June 20, 2017
Apple just poached one of Qualcomm’s top guys – May 31, 2017
Just to get my mandatory comment out of the way: this dispute has nothing to do with Qualcomm components. It is about the royalties payable for the use of software patents. The use of those patents is unavoidable because they are inextricably embedded into the standards that enable any cellular device to communicate with a network. The royalties need to be fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory, but something must be paid whether there is a Qualcomm chip in the device or not.
Of course things are never quite so simple as that in China. No way will they give Qualcomm the power that they desire but one has to wonder how much the Govt might exploit matters for their own (and their businesses benefit) by playing a game of chess… or should I say Go.
The Chinese have their own version of Chess. So it may be a game of chess, but with each side playing with different rules.
They’ve come to the wrong country to find patent protection satisfaction. China has to lead the world in patent theft and indifference, along with South Korea. I am sure the Chinese judge though will find it all very amusing before siding with Apple by virtue of China being Apple’s manufacturing base.
Maybe they could penalize Qual-con with a nasty fine instead after the unbridled laughter dies down?
The Party will decide this case based on which corporation pays the most. This is the real reason Apple isn’t worried.
Hey Apple: what’s your license fee on Lightning? Is it fair?
Whine all you want about prices qualcomm charges, the patent system is specifically set up to empower companies to profit from their inventions. Apple does it too. It kills competition. Don’t like it, then call your congressman to refine patent law.