Qualcomm wants wider ban

US chip maker seeks court orders against Apple's iPhone XS, XS Max and XR models

Qualcomm Inc has sought a court ban on the latest iPhones in China after securing a preliminary restriction on older models, as the US chip giant continued to step up the ante against the world's leading smartphone maker.

The company is filing additional suits seeking restraints on Apple Inc's latest XS, XS Max and XR models, Jiang Hongyi, a lawyer at Lexfield Law Offices which is representing Qualcomm in its patent suit, told the Financial Times.

Jiang noted that additional suits were pending in courts in Beijing, Qingdao and Guangzhou.

The latest move came after Qualcomm said on Monday that it had won a preliminary order from a Chinese court banning the import and sale of several iPhone models after the court found that Apple had violated two of Qualcomm's patents.

Apple later continued to sell the affected iPhone models as the patent infringement ruling only applies to models running the old operating system, leading Qualcomm to ask a court in Fuzhou to enforce the injunction on Thursday.

In response, Apple said that it was in compliance with the court ruling and would provide a software update in response to Qualcomm's patent claim.

"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," said Apple in a reply to China Daily.

The company said that it has filed a request with the Fuzhou court, respectfully asking it to clarify and reconsider the decision.

"Apple follows the law everywhere we do business, and we always adhere to local regulations and legal decisions. We respect the Fuzhou court and its ruling," it added.

Analysts pointed out that the recent moves would be used by Qualcomm for further dialogue with Apple to sort out the dispute between the two firms.

Li Junhui, an intellectual property researcher at the China University of Political Science and Law, said that the ruling will limit Apple's iPhone sales in the country.

"If the latest application of bans is true and is supported by the court, it will deliver a coup de grace for Apple's sales not only in China but also globally," he said.