Qualcomm and Apple are at it again, and this time the iPhone X is at the center of the ongoing dispute.
Qualcomm has filed three new lawsuits that allege Apple has committed patent infringement. The communications company stated that the infringement occurred in the production of the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, and iPhone X. Several of the technologies increase battery life and allow for better photographic uses of the devices. Qualcomm alleges that Apple iPhones use multitasking interfaces similar to their own and has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban the import of iPhone models that use modems developed by a rival company. AT&T, as well as T-Mobile, would be unable to carry and market the devices if the ban is enacted. Additionally, Apple would be forced to use modems produced by Qualcomm.
Qualcomm filed an initial lawsuit against Apple in July 2017. The communications giant sought to ban iPhones. Qualcomm also sought an undisclosed amount of monetary damages. The latest infringement claims were added as an update to the existing lawsuit. The suit was updated after Apple filed its lawsuit against Qualcomm.
The lawsuit followed accusations made by the Federal Trade Commission accused Qualcomm of anti-competitive actions. Taiwan imposed a $774 million fine on Qualcomm in October 2017 after deciding that the communications giant had violated the country’s anti-trust laws. Qualcomm was imposed with fines from other countries in the past. The company was handed a fine of $975 million from China. South Korea’s anti-trust regulatory agency fined Qualcomm $853 million.
Qualcomm is the producer of semiconductor and telecommunications technologies. The company was launched by Irwin M. Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi, Harvey White, Adelia Coffman, Andrew Cohen, Klein Gilhousen and Franklin Antonio in 1985. Qualcomm is based in San Diego and has acquired more than two dozen new technologies and companies since 1997.
