US: ITC denies Qualcomm request for iPhone import ban

As part of the ongoing legal battle between Qualcomm and Intel, a US International Trade Commission (ITC) judge has declined Qualcomm’s request for an import ban on certain iPhone models. The judge said that while some iPhone models infringe on one Qualcomm patent, an import ban would go against certain factors.

In a statement, Apple said, “We’re glad the ITC stopped Qualcomm’s attempt to damage competition and ultimately harm innovators and U.S. consumers.”

Meanwhile, Qualcomm declared in its statement that while it was pleased the judge found patent infringement, it doesn’t make sense for the ITC to not then block imports of the infringing products. “It makes no sense to then allow infringement to continue by denying an import ban. That goes against the ITC mandate to protect American innovators by blocking the import of infringing products,” Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg said. “There are many ways Apple could stop infringing our technology without affecting the public interest.”

Just earlier this week, Qualcomm raised the stakes in legal battle with Apple, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets and giving the information to Intel.

Full Content: Reuters