Amid the ongoing legal kerfuffle between Apple and chipmaker Qualcomm, which has in turn led to the ban of some iPhone model sales in China, Apple looks to be moving to settle this with a software update.
The legal issue, which concerns Apple suing Qualcomm over royalty payments, has been ongoing for some time now, the longtime allies having moved into more contentious territory in the last couple of years.
Apple will push iOS updates to try and settle its patent dispute with Qualcomm early next week.
The company offered the following statement:
“Early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case.”
Apple has also denied that it is in violation of any patents, stating that “Based on the iPhone models we offer today in China, we believe we are in compliance,” it said.
Qualcomm, in turn, has not welcomed Apple’s announcement. General Counsel Don Rosenberg stated that “Apple continues to disregard and violate the Fuzhou court’s orders. They are legally obligated to immediately cease sales, offers for sale and importation of the devices identified in the orders and to prove compliance in court.”
Qualcomm asked China to ban the sale and manufacture of iPhones in the country in October 2017. Last Monday, the Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court imposed a ban on the sale of iPhone 6S and Plus, iPhone 7 and Plus, iPhone 8 and Plus, and the iPhone X. Apple lodged an appeal almost immediately. However, the injunction did not cover the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Plus, and iPhone XR. Apple released those models after Qualcomm filed its suit.
The patents in dispute concern resizing photos on a phone and managing apps using a touchscreen. Prior to last week’s development, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said that the two companies were close to settling their disputes.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via The Mac Observer and Reuters