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Qualcomm Is Seeking US Import Ban For iPhones (bloomberg.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the hurt-feelings dept.

Qualcomm is seeking to block the sale of iPhones in the U.S. after Apple decided to stop paying them billions of dollars in licensing fees for smartphone chips. Bloomberg reports: Qualcomm is preparing to ask the International Trade Commission to stop the iPhone, which is built in Asia, from entering the country, threatening to block Apple's iconic product from the American market in advance of its anticipated new model this fall, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. The ITC is a quasi-judicial agency in Washington that has the power to block the import of goods into the U.S. and processes cases more quickly than federal district courts -- the venue in which the companies are accusing each other of lying, making threats and trying to create an illegal monopoly. The escalating legal dispute revolves around patents Qualcomm holds that let it to charge a percentage of the price of every modern high-speed data-capable smartphone, regardless of whether the devices use its chips. Apple argues the system is unfair and Qualcomm has used licensing leverage to illegally help its semiconductor unit.

3 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Let's do the numbers... by Brett+Buck · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Qualcomm market capitalization = $80 billion, give or take a few. Apple cash on hand = $250 billion.

            I know how this turns out. Don Quixote had a more rational approach.

    1. Re:Let's do the numbers... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Is all dispute resolution in the US a simple case of who has the most money, or is there some kind of legal system of rules in place?

      I mean, most countries have the latter, and the point of the system is to prevent stuff like this.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  2. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black...! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    "Apple argues the system is unfair and Qualcomm has used licensing leverage to illegally help its semiconductor unit."
    Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! (Cr)apple has tried to use patents against any and all competitors that it could, trying to force them to pay huge settlements or force them out of the market. (Cr)apple's competitors all have better made products that are easier to use and work better, and at far lower prices than (Cr)apple charges. If they had a chance of being able to compete on price and quality, they wouldn't have had to go through all of the litigation!

      I am not saying that what Qualcomm is doing is right, but (Cr)apple is just as guilty of unfair and even illegal trade practices, and bad patent litigation as Qualcomm, if not more so!