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Judge Recommends Import Ban On iPhones After Latest Apple Vs. Qualcomm Verdict (theverge.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: The latest chapter in the ongoing and messy Apple versus Qualcomm legal battle might mean a U.S. import ban on some iPhone models. A U.S. trade judge has found Apple guilty of infringing on two Qualcomm patents related to power management and data download speeds. As a result, the judge -- International Trade Commission Judge MaryJoan McNamara -- says some iPhone models containing competing Intel modems might be blocked from shipping from China, where they're manufactured, to the U.S. The judgment is still pending review by the ITC. Qualcomm is expecting another ruling in a second case it brought to the ITC later today that is not expected to include an import ban on iPhones. Regardless, this ruling is another blow to Apple, which, earlier this month, was found to have infringed on three separate Qualcomm patents in one of many other legal skirmishes playing out between the two companies. Next month the two companies will square off in court to discuss Qualcomm's alleged anti-competitive licensing strategies and the patent royalties it claims Apple owes for disputing the terms of their long-standing relationship.
Keep in mind that Qualcomm didn't file this suit until Apple switched to using Intel chips rather than Qualcomm's own chips. This is about revenge for not using them as their primary supplier.
That's okay, Apple switched to Intel as revenge for Qualcomm not bending over and cutting their patent fees for Apple. Also they possibly (probably) gave Intel Qualcomm's trade secrets to improve their crappy performance. The wheel of screw your business partner over keeps spinning.