Judge rejects Qualcomm's ban on iPhone import, but says Apple infringes patent

As part of the ongoing legal battle between the two, a US trade judge denied Qualcomm's request to ban the importation of certain iPhone models. As reported by Reuters, the judge said that if some models of iPhone encroach on a Qualcomm patent, an import ban would go against certain factors …

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A judge at the US International Trade Commission said some iPhone models violated Qualcomm's patent on energy management technology. However, the judge added that "the public interest factors" are inconsistent with Qualcomm's application for a ban on imports:

A judge at the US International Trade Commission said Apple phones had violated a Qualcomm patent on energy management technology, but rejected the chip maker's request to ban the company's technology. import of some iPhones to the United States.

Thomas Pender, an ITC administrative law judge, said the "public interest factors" weighed in favor of Qualcomm's application for a ban.

In a speech, Apple said it was "pleased" that the ITC prevented Qualcomm from "harming competition and harming US innovators and consumers."

"We are pleased that the ITC has halted Qualcomm's attempt to harm competition and harming US innovators and consumers," said Apple.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm said in its statement that, while it was pleased that the judge had found a patent infringement, it did not make sense for the ITC not to block imports of the counterfeit products:

"It makes no sense to allow the offense to continue by refusing an import ban. This goes against the ITC's mandate to protect US innovators by blocking the importation of counterfeit goods, "said Qualcomm's general counsel, Don Rosenberg. "There are many ways Apple could stop harming our technology without affecting the public interest."

Earlier this week, Qualcomm raised the stakes of the legal battle with Apple, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets and giving information to Intel. Nevertheless, the CEO of Qualcomm hopes that the two companies will be able to work together again.

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