The patent dispute between Apple and Qualcomm which has lasted for two years has recently made new progress. On March 26, 2019, Qualcomm announced that  MaryJoan Mcnamara, the administrative judge from the International Trade Commission (ITC), has issued a preliminary verdict, claiming that  Apple infringed  one of Qualcomm's patent.

Mr McNamara stated that she would advise nthe committee to issue a limited exclusion order prohibiting the import of infringing products into the US market  and banning related market promotions, advertisements, exhibitions or storing activities

Qualcomm explained that  the patent which was defined as infringement by  Apple could improve power management capabilities in the processor circuit,  decrease the power consumption of the mobile devices and prolong their battery life. Qualcomm accused  Apple of infringing its patents in the A10, A11 and A12 application processors designed by Apple which were widely applied in the Apple’s products including multiple models fromthe iPhone 7 to its newest published ones .

It's said  that the preliminary verdict  and relief proposal will be submitted to call members of the committee for deliberation. The final verdict will be published on July 26, 2019.

Moreover, the  final verdict on patent dispute investigation between the two giants was  published on the same day, announcing that the patent of power saving owned by  Qualcomm was invalid. However,  the verdict was inconsistent with the recent unanimous verdict reached by the  jurywhich  agreed that  tApple  infringed the patent at the end of the trial after Apple had quitted its defense on the invalidity. Qualcomm stated that it would  request  a  re-consideration based on the verdict of the jury.

During the past two years, the two companies filed around 80 lawsuits worldwide. Qualcomm affirmed that Apple infringed its patents, seeking import prohibitions on iPhones.According to Qualcomm,  that the unpaid royalty fee on iPhones  has reached billions of USD. While  Apple denied any infringement adding that  Qualcomm was trying to squeeze its only American competitor out of the market.

Over the past six months,  patent courts in China and Germany have reached verdicts that  Apple has infringed other non-standard-essential patents and issued prohibitions on those infringing devices. Two weeks ago, U.S. Courthouse in San Diego ruled that Apple infringed three patents owned by the Qualcomm and ordered Apple topay Qualcomm $31 million worth of compensation  

Source: People.cn

Time: March 28, 2019

photo from: dy.163.com