Apple to Get Around China Ban

Apple Inc, facing a court ban in China on some of its

iPhone models over alleged infringement of Qualcomm

Inc patents, said on Friday it will push software updates

to users in a bid to resolve potential issues.

Apple will carry out the software updates at the start of

next week “to address any possible concern about our

compliance with the order”, the firm said in a statement

sent to Reuters.

Earlier this week, Qualcomm said a Chinese court had

ordered a ban on sales of some older iPhone models for

violating two of its patents, though intellectual property

lawyers said the ban would likely take time to enforce.

“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 a statement, Qualcomm’s general counsel Don

Rosenberg said “Apple continues to disregard and violate

the Fuzhou court’s orders” despite the planned software

Changes.

“They are legally obligated to immediately cease sales,

offers for sale and importation of the devices identified in

the orders and to prove compliance in court,” he said in

the statement.