iPhone. Without being too much of a surprise, Germany decided today that Apple phones must be banned for sale in the country, something we talked about, and told you it could happen, just a few hours ago. Well, a judge in Germany decided that iPhones with Intel modems infringe Qualcomm's patents and that they must be removed from sale, and here we are talking about all models released from the iPhone 7 onwards.
iPhone. For now, the sales ban for Apple phones will not apply, and this is because Apple can appeal against it, but when that term expires, the ban will come into force in Germany. As long as the lawsuit is pending, iPhone phones will remain on sale in Germany, but if Apple fails to convince the court that it does not infringe Qualcomm's patents, they will have to be removed from stores, "for real", unlike in China, where are sold in defiance of the courts.
iPhone. Germany BAN Phones, Here's WHEN
iPhone. The Apple company has a much bigger problem in Germany than in China, and this is because we are now talking about technologies for modems, which cannot be modified as easily as some animations in iOS. These technologies target the way in which modems reduce energy consumption to a good extent, and if Apple changes them, it is possible that iPhones will suffer a serious problem with battery autonomy.
In Germany, Qualcomm is seeking a ban on some iPhones with chips from Intel Corp. The judge ruled that phones that contain a combination of chips from Intel and Apple supplier Qorvo Inc violated one of Qualcomm's patents around so-called envelope tracking, a feature that helps mobile phones save battery power while sending and receiving wireless signals.
iPhone. The ban on the sale of Apple phones in Germany is currently not put into practice, but it is unlikely that the Americans will convince the court that in reality they are not infringing Qualcomm's patents, if they have not already done so. I think that the only solution for the Americans will be, in the end, reaching an agreement with Qualcomm to end the legal disputes, otherwise iPhone phones will disappear from many markets, because patents are violated everywhere.
UPDATED: It seems that although Apple can appeal the decision, iPhones can still be banned in the country while the appeal is being judged.
While I confirm new models not affected, Reuters is WRONG about appeal. The injunction is enforceable even during an appeal. They misunderstood the judge.
—Florian Mueller (@FOSSpatents) December 20, 2018
