Apple to Release A Software Update to Reverse iPhone Ban in China
- Apple and Qualcomm are in a legal battle that caused older iPhone devices to get banned in China recently.
- The tech giant is trying to reverse the court’s decision with an update scheduled for launch early next week.
- Qualcomm is currently trying to get the iPhone XS, and XR banned in the country as well.
A recent court injunction in China caused a number of older Apple iPhones to be banned in China. The tech giant was ordered to stop selling the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X in the country but it seems like the company has found a workaround that could get the devices unbanned.
A minor software update will be released which will address two controversial patents on the devices. Apple was found to be infringing on two Qualcomm patents in China which led to the ban. The patents are linked to the image resizing and application management features of iOS.
When the ban was handed, Apple claimed that the latest version of iOS does not infringe on the patents and if the company force updates all of the affected devices to iOS 12, it could undo the ban. A reconsideration plea has already been filed by the company, and if things go the iPhone maker’s way, we could soon see the banned devices being listed for sale again.
Apple will also file for a settlement with Qualcomm. The Chinese chip maker has also filed an injunction to get the latest iPhone XS, and iPhone XR banned. Both companies have been in a rocky relationship over the past months with multiple lawsuits between them.
The legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm began with the chip maker trying to ban the sales of iPhones in the US. Qualcomm has also claimed that Apple stole source code and transferred it to Intel, one of the chipmaker’s biggest competitors. It is unlikely that Qualcomm will lay low if the ban in China is reversed once the software update goes live and it will be up to the Chinese courts to pass the verdict on the ongoing dispute between both companies.
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