The largest US mobile processor manufacturer lost pre-trial proceedings with Apple. The processor giant made a tactical mistake in the patent battle with Apple.
Recall that the clarification of patent relations between Apple and Qualcomm has been going on for more than a year and a half. Initially, Qualcomm wanted to ban sales of the iPhone, starting with the iPhone 7, in the US because, according to the company, Apple violated its 16 patents. In response, Apple accused the processor manufacturer of violating eight patents when creating Snapdragon 800 and 820.
In the last pre-trial meeting, Apple’s lawyers said that the nine patents that Qualcomm claimed violated were not violated, and some of them were completely invalid. At first, Qualcomm’s lawyers could not challenge the company’s claims from Cupertino, but after that, when they prepared the answer, it was too late.
These pre-trial proceedings do not mean that Qualcomm lost the whole case of Apple. If the court reveals a real patent infringement, Apple may be forced to pay compensation to Qualcomm.
