After Apple was barred from importing and selling some iPhone models in China, Qualcomm has now been granted a second injunction against Apple on Thursday, banning the brand from selling some iPhone models in Germany.
Following the ruling in the Apple-Qualcomm patent case, Apple will now stop selling iPhones in its stores in Germany that use chips from Intel and parts from another supplier named Qorvo.
The judge has ruled that phones that contain a combination of chips from Intel and Apple supplier Qorvo violated one of Qualcomm‘s patents around envelope tracking that helps mobile phones save battery power while sending and receiving wireless signals.
In a statement, Apple said that it is planning to appeal the ruling. Under this condition, Judge Matthias Zigann told the ruling would not go into immediate effect. However, Apple said that throughout the appeal process, iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models will not be sold in its 15 retail stores in Germany.
The company’s new iPhone models, including iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, will still be sold in those stores. However, the company has clarified that all iPhone models, including iPhone 7 and 8 will still be sold through carriers and other third-party retailers in Germany.
In a statement, Apple said, “We are of course disappointed by this verdict and we plan to appeal. All iPhone models remain available to customers through carriers and resellers in 4,300 locations across Germany.”
On the other hand, Qualcomm said in a press release that the injunction will be in effect as soon as it posts the required bonds. The company added that it would complete the process “within a few days.” Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm Incorporated, said:
Two respected courts in two different jurisdictions just in the past two weeks have now confirmed the value of Qualcomm’s patents and declared Apple an infringer, ordering a ban on iPhones in the important markets of Germany and China.
The German case is the chipset maker’s third major effort to secure a ban on Apple’s lucrative iPhones over patent infringement allegations. The company had earlier filed such cases in the United States and in China. This is also Qualcomm’s second major win against Apple after a Chinese court granted an injunction against Apple for an alleged patent violation earlier this month.
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The case is part of a broader court conflict between the two technology giants in which Apple has alleged that Qualcomm engaged in anti-competitive business practices for a monopoly on its modem chips.
