Qualcomm says it has won patent suit against Apple

Sales of older iPhones banned in China

SAN FRANCISCO— Qualcomm Inc. said it won a ruling in China against Apple Inc. that bans the sale of several iPhone models in that country.

The Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court ruled that Apple is infringing two Qualcomm patents and issued injunctions against the sale of the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, the San Diego, Calif.-based chipmaker said in a statement Monday. The most recent models introduced in September, the iPhone XS, XR and XS Max, are not covered by the ban.

The two U.S. companies are locked in a worldwide dispute over licensing fees that Qualcomm charges for use of technology that the chipmaker says underpins all modern phone systems. Apple has argued that its former supplier unfairly leverages its position as the biggest supplier of chips for smartphones to force payment of the fees. Qualcomm has countered that Apple is using its intellectual property without paying for it and the legal cases are aimed at forcing it to lower licensing charges.

“Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us,” Don Rosenberg, executive vice-president and general counsel at Qualcomm, said in a statement. “These court orders are further confirmation of the strength of Qualcomm’s vast patent portfolio.”

The patents are related to adjusting and reformatting the size and appearance of photographs and managing applications using a touchscreen, Qualcomm said. They are two of a number of patents Qualcomm is using against Apple in disputes in several countries.

Apple and one other unnamed company are the only major phone makers that do not pay Qualcomm licensing fees.