Apple Gets a “Sorry, Not Sold” Order in China
San Francisco‑styled news: a Chinese court has slapped a ban on selling a whole slice of Apple’s past iPhone lineup—models from the iPhone 6S all the way up to the X. Qualcomm, the chip king, claims Apple has been pirating two of its patents, and the court decided the old tech must stay off the shelves for good. Apple, however, insists that every iPhone it sells in mainland China is still a legal party‑goer.
Why This Matters
- China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are Apple’s third‑largest market (about 20 % of its $265.6 billion sales).
- When Apple’s shares wobble, investors get nervous about whether the next iPhone is a “bump in the road” or a “boom.”
- Qualcomm has a list of thousands of lawsuits worldwide—this is just one big jumping-off point.
The Court’s Decision
The Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court found Apple torn up two Qualcomm patents: one dealing with resizing photos and the other with managing apps on a touchscreen. The ruling was immediate and covered:
- iPhone 6S & 6S Plus
- iPhone 7 & 7 Plus
- iPhone 8 & 8 Plus
- iPhone X
Apple’s response? “Qualcomm’s attempt to ban our products is just another desperate move by a company under worldwide scrutiny.” It’s Apple’s take on a shaky legal argument.
Stacking the Deck
Apple has jumped into the “reconsideration” game—a first step before heading to court. Qualcomm, meanwhile, will need to file an enforcement complaint so Apple can mount an appeal. In the meantime, stock swings: Apple up 0.99 % to $169.60, Qualcomm up 2.2 % to $57.24.
Case in a Nutshell
Qualcomm’s claim dates back to 2017, pointing at how its tech is used in phone photo resizing and touchscreen app handling. Apple claims the patents were hijacked and that Qualcomm is engaged in “illegal practices.”
What’s Apart from Apple?
In July, the same court banned some microchips from Micron Tech, citing a different patent conflict. The provincial Chinese courts differ from Beijing’s IP courts: they can impose a ban outright, sometimes before the defendant gets a chance to speak up.
Higher Stakes
All this unfolds while Beijing and Washington play a high‑stakes trade game, hoping to wrap negotiations by March 1. A lawyer, Yiqiang Li, notes the injunction could force Apple to dig into Qualcomm’s global settlement. Meanwhile, Beijing’s politician‑tech drama—中國 with the arrest of Huawei’s CFO Meng Wanzhou—adds political heat.
Cool Take
Qualcomm is a major chip supplier to China’s rising stars: Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus. Apple, on the other hand, is hacking straight into the premier Chinese market with its own premium line, which means the court’s move is as much about market rivalry as IP protection.
As the streets of Chinese tech buzz, Apple’s next climb may be less about the device’s specs and more about the legal gymnastics it must perform. Will the ban be reversed? The courtroom is set, the stakes are high, and the saga is just warming up.
