Apple has announced this evening that it will be rolling out an iOS software following China granting an import and sale ban to Qualcomm. The software update will be released in an attempt to circumvent the two Qualcomm patents which Apple is guilty of breaching. The iOS software update will be available to users in China starting next week. Let's dive in to see some more details on the matter.
Apple To Release An iOS Update In China Next Week To Avoid Potential Patent Infringements
Qualcomm was granted an injunction on the import and sale of iPhone 6s to iPhone 8 in China that violated two software-oriented patents. The patents relate to how applications are handled and managed on a smartphone and how the photos are resized. Details on the matter are quite scarce at this point but what we do know is that the injunction is based on iPhone 6s, iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 which were shipped with pre-iOS 12 releases of the software.
Apple made a statement to Reuters, stating that the software "updates" will be released to the affected devices in China next week.
“Based on the iPhone models we offer today in China, we believe we are in compliance,” Apple said. “Early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case.”
In addition to this, Apple has also filed a reconsideration request with the Chinese patent court in which it has asked the authority to reconsider the ban on import and sale of iPhones in the region. The filing points that the ban would force settle Apple's ongoing dispute with Qualcomm. Furthermore, it was also stated that it could potentially cause irreparable damage to anyone involved.
iPhone models being banned in the Chinese market will also result in Apple losing hundreds of thousands in tax. Obviously, the consumers and the government would also be affected. There will be more to the story, so be sure to stay tuned in for more details on the matter.
This is all for now, folks. What are your thoughts on the Apple-Qualcomm dispute over potential patent infringements? Share your views with us in the comments section below.
News Source: Reuters
