Apple Wants to Overcome the Chinese iPhone Ban via Software Update

A Chinese court took everyone by surprise when it banned Apple Inc from selling iPhone devices in the nation with the exception of the newly-launched devices. The decision was taken in light of the patent infringement lawsuit filed by Qualcomm. Now, instead of going through the legal path, Apple has decided to reverse the ban’s impact by launching a software update to the applicable iPhone devices.

The company expects to roll out the software updates by the early part of next week. This feature would be disabling a number of features that Qualcomm says are patented by the chipmaker giant. However, Apple would still need the agreement from the Chinese court to approve this step. If approved, however, currently banned devices can again be sold in the Chinese market.

According to the lawsuit that Qualcomm had filed, Apple had violated two patents by including two major features in the iOS system — one for photo manipulation and another one for app management. Apple has been maintaining that the claims by Qualcomm are baseless and that it has not infringed any patents. The firm also added that iOS 12 does not contain any of these features.

In light of this argument, the decision to launch a software update should solve the major issue that Apple is facing right now. If the alleged features are removed, Apple should be able to resume sales in the country, which is a major market for the manufacturer. As per the current court order, devices like iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X are in the banned list.

Qualcomm does not seem to stop its journey against the Paulo Alto company. In another injunction, the chip maker company claimed that the latest devices iPhone XS and XR are also infringing the patents, demanding the ban of those devices as well. A Chinese court took everyone by surprise when it banned Apple Inc from selling iPhone devices in the nation with the exception of the newly-launched devices. The decision was taken in light of the patent infringement lawsuit filed by Qualcomm. Now, instead of going through the legal path, Apple has decided to reverse the ban’s impact by launching a software update to the applicable iPhone devices.

The company expects to roll out the software updates by the early part of next week. This feature would be disabling a number of features that Qualcomm says are patented by the chipmaker giant. However, Apple would still need the agreement from the Chinese court to approve this step. If approved, however, currently banned devices can again be sold in the Chinese market.

According to the lawsuit that Qualcomm had filed, Apple had violated two patents by including two major features in the iOS system — one for photo manipulation and another one for app management. Apple has been maintaining that the claims by Qualcomm are baseless and that it has not infringed any patents. The firm also added that iOS 12 does not contain any of these features.

In light of this argument, the decision to launch a software update should solve the major issue that Apple is facing right now. If the alleged features are removed, Apple should be able to resume sales in the country, which is a major market for the manufacturer. As per the current court order, devices like iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X are in the banned list.

Qualcomm does not seem to stop its journey against the Paulo Alto company. In another injunction, the chip maker company claimed that the latest devices iPhone XS and XR are also infringing the patents, demanding the ban of those devices as well.