Qualcomm loses first round in Apple patent fight in US Trade Commission

Apple's iPhones shouldn't be banned from the US even though they infringe a patent owned by Qualcomm, US court

Apple’s iPhones shouldn’t be banned from the US even though they infringe a patent owned by Qualcomm, a US International Trade Commission judge found Friday.

Judge Thomas Pender found that Apple infringed one of three Qualcomm patents in the case but declined to recommend the import ban sought by Qualcomm. The judge’s recommendation “makes no sense,” Qualcomm said.

The judge’s findings are subject to review by the full commission, which has the final say. If the commission goes along, it would eliminate a powerful bargaining chip Qualcomm could use to push Apple into agreeing to pay license fees. “Qualcomm has continued to