Apple may face iPhone import ban in the U.S
The U.S International Trade Commission (ITC) is reviewing an earlier ruling that a ban on imports of some iPhones into the U.S was not in the public interest.
The odds are now stacked against Apple in its ongoing legal battle with Qualcomm as ITC might ban the import of the iPhone in the U.S.
Qualcomm filed a patent infringement complaint against the iPhone maker in July and wanted to ban the import of the iPhone in the U.S. Even though Apple was found to have infringed on one Qualcomm patent, the request was turned down by a U.S trade judge due to "public interest factors".
The ITC is now reviewing whether the one patent was indeed infringed and whether it was right not to grant Qualcomm the request to ban the import of iPhones.
It will also consider the time taken for Apple to design around Qualcomm’s patent, what national security concerns would be implicated by an import ban, and whether a limited import ban can be implemented.
While Apple declined to comment, Qualcomm is pleased with ITC’s decision to review the ruling.
“We are pleased that the Commission is going to review the Administrative Law Judge’s recommendation that no ITC remedy should result from a finding of infringement,” Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm’s executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement after the announcement.
A court in China recently granted Qualcomm an injunction against Apple to ban sales of some iPhones in the country. However, Apple is disputing the scope of the ban and continues to sell all iPhones in China.
Source: Reuters
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