Qualcomm reportedly files to block iPhone sales and manufacturing in China

Apple and Qualcomm have been embroiled in an ugly legal battle throughout the course of 2017. Apple has blasted Qualcomm’s practices as monopolistic, while Qualcomm has hit back at Apple for using patents without a license. Recently, Qualcomm has been taking things a step forward, following a move to ban iPhone sales and imports to the US, the company has reportedly also filed to block iPhone sales and manufacturing in China.

Qualcomm is trying to fight Apple on all fronts. Previously, the chip maker has filed separate lawsuits against the companies that make up Apple’s supply chain as well as Apple itself. Now according to a Bloomberg report, Qualcomm has also filed a suit in China, looking to block the sale and manufacture of iPhones in the country.

According to Qualcomm spokesperson, Christine Trimble, these suits were filed in the Beijing Intellectual Property court, as “Apple employs technologies invented by Qualcomm without paying for them”.

Whether or not the Chinese courts will play along with Qualcomm’s requests remains to be seen. However, as Bloomberg points out, much of Apple’s supply chain is based in China, so courts may be very wary of blocking any manufacturing, as it could lead to lay-offs and loss of business, which would hurt the economy.

KitGuru Says: Qualcomm is certainly keeping Apple’s legal team busy this year. Things seem to be continually escalating too. So far, Apple has not commented on the latest legal move but we’ll keep an eye on the story to see how things progress.

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