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24 July 2017Patents

Apple receives backing from tech group in Qualcomm patent battle

A lobbying group that represents major technology companies including Google, Amazon and Samsung has urged US authorities to reject Qualcomm’s request for a ban on iPhone imports.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) filed comments with the International Trade Commission stating that the requested ban would “hurt consumers”.

Qualcomm previously requested the ban on imports of the phone, claiming Apple infringed six of its patents.

The complaint relate to six patents: US numbers 8,633,936; 8,698,558; 8,487,658; 8,838,949; 9,535,490; and 9,608,675, which “enable high performance in a smartphone while extending battery life”.

The CCIA, which Apple is not part of, said a ban would “drive up prices on consumer devices”.

“Qualcomm is already using its dominant position to pressure competitors and tax competing products,” said CCIA president and CEO Ed Black.

“What’s at stake here is certainly the availability of iPhones and other smartphones at better prices. But even more critical is the principle of open competition that has been historically important to US economic success.”

The requested ban on imports was the latest twist in the patent battle between Apple and semiconductor company Qualcomm.

In January, Apple sued Qualcomm  for approximately $1 billion, accusing it of “charging royalties for technologies they have nothing to do with”.

Qualcomm filed a counterclaim in April, saying that Apple had failed to uphold its share of the bargain in a business co-operation and patent agreement between the companies.

This was followed by a  request from Apple to invalidate a number of Qualcomm patents in June, which Qualcomm responded to with a requested ban on imports.

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7 July 2017   Qualcomm has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), alleging that Apple infringed six of its patents in the iPhone model and requesting a ban on imports.
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5 January 2018   The US International Trade Commission has revealed plans to investigate Apple’s iPhone technology after receiving a complaint from semiconductor company Qualcomm.
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23 May 2018   A UK judge has handed down a mixed ruling for Qualcomm in its standard-essential patent dispute with Apple.