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Court ruling bars sales of Apple iPhones in China

By Clyde Hughes and Danielle Haynes
A Chinese court ruling Monday forces Apple to stop selling iPhones in the Asian nation. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
A Chinese court ruling Monday forces Apple to stop selling iPhones in the Asian nation. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A Beijing court granted two preliminary injunctions Monday against Apple subsidiaries in China, forcing them to stop selling iPhones there because of patent infringement issues.

The ruling came after San Diego-based chip maker Qualcomm accused Apple of violating patents that allow users to adjust and reformat the size and appearance of photographs, and manage applications using the touch screen on their phones.

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Qualcomm said the injunctions placed by the Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court impact Chinese sales of the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.

"We deeply value our relationships with customers, rarely resorting to the courts for assistance, but we also have an abiding belief in the need to protect intellectual property rights," Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm's general counsel, said in a statement.

"Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us. These court orders are further confirmation of the strength of Qualcomm's vast patent portfolio."

Apple stock tumbled 2 percent in early trading Monday, continuing the tech giant's slide this year. Its shares have dropped 26 percent this quarter. Shares were back up by 0.72 percent Monday afternoon.

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"Qualcomm's effort to ban our products is another desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world," Apple said in a statement, according to CNBC.

"All iPhone models remain available for our customers in China. Qualcomm is asserting three patents they had never raised before, including one which has already been invalidated. We will pursue all our legal options through the courts."

Apple told CNBC that it filed an appeal to overturn the ban.

Qualcomm said it's pursuing legal action against Apple connected to other patents in China and other countries.

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