HomeWinBuzzer NewsApple Restarts iPhone 8 Sales in Germany With Qualcomm Exclusivity

Apple Restarts iPhone 8 Sales in Germany With Qualcomm Exclusivity

To adhere to a patent infringement ruling, Apple only sells iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 models in Germany with a Qualcomm processor.

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has been unable to sell 8 and iPhone 7 models in Germany since a ban was issued on the devices last year. German authorities banned the over an ongoing patent infringement legal battle between Apple and . Cupertino now says it will begin selling the handsets in the country again.

Previously, iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 models sold in Germany came with a combination of and Qualcomm . Qualcomm won a legal fight over patent infringement as part of a wider case the company is building against Apple. Indeed, a trail between the two companies will begin in San Diego this April.

In order to continue selling the devices and to comply with the patent infringement ruling, Apple has ditched Intel processors. All iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 handsets sold in Germany will not come with a Qualcomm processor. The company says it had “no choice”.

Last year, Qualcomm started a legal pursuit against Apple in the United States. Qualcomm asks that four of Apple's suppliers pay fees for using the chip manufacturer's intellectual properties.

Qualcomm executive vice president and general counsel, Don Rosenberg, says in a statement that “[Qualcomm seeks] an order that the manufacturers comply with their obligations to pay for the intellectual property they continue to use for the benefit of Apple.

Ongoing

Those suppliers are Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, and Compal. Qualcomm began suing these four companies last week, for breach of contract. According to Qualcomm, Apple instructed these companies not to pay royalties for devices they created using Qualcomm technology.

Apple has responded by saying Qualcomm has actively sought a monopoly through illegal patent licensing.

“Qualcomm is attempting to use injunctions against our products to try to get Apple to succumb to their extortionist demands,” Apple said in a statement to Reuters.

SourceReuters
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

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