Judge recommends banning some iPhones in Apple, Qualcomm patent case

A U.S. trade judge on Monday ruled that Apple infringed on two of chipmaker Qualcomm’s patents and recommended that some iPhones should be banned from the country as a result.

U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Judge MaryJoan McNamara found Apple had violated two Qualcomm patents and had not infringed on two others.

{mosads}McNamara is recommending a block on importing some iPhone models from China, where they are produced, to the U.S, according to a notice from the ITC. 

The full ITC panel has to review McNamara’s findings before making a decision on a potential ban. They are expected to decide by July, Bloomberg reported.

Apple and Qualcomm are locked in court battles around the world. Apple claims Qualcomm boosts its prices excessively and the chipmaker accuses Apple of stealing its intellectual property without compensation. 

A jury in San Diego last month found that Apple had infringed on three Qualcomm patents, awarding the chipmaker $31 million. 

A Chinese court last December banned the import and sale of most iPhone models in China, granting two preliminary injunctions requested by Qualcomm. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with support from Apple two years argo argued that Qualcomm had a monopoly over modem chips. Since then, Apple and Qualcomm have brought their ongoing dispute to international courtrooms. 

The two companies previously had an exclusive licensing arrangement, but Apple now uses Intel to provide the chips for its latest iPhones.

Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg in statement said the company appreciates the judge’s “recognition of Apple’s infringement of our hardware patent and that she will be recommending an import ban and cease and desist order,” according to Bloomberg. 

Apple has said it did not infringe Qualcomm’s patents.