Qualcomm Tries Having iPhone X Banned, Only Those Under AT&T And T-Mobile Networks Though

Apple recently answered Qualcomm’s accusations of infringing on its patents with its own countersuit about the chipmaker infringing on the iPhone maker’s patents. In response, Qualcomm is hitting Apple with another lawsuit that specifically applies to iPhones that can be obtained from AT&T and T-Mobile. If the processor chip giant had its way, iPhone Xs from these carriers could be banned.

Qualcomm filed its request to make buying an iPhone X more difficult on Thursday, asking the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to ban all imports of versions of the device that had Intel modems. This would also apply to certain iPhone 8, 8 Plus, 7, and 7 Plus units that are on the networks of the affected carriers, CNET reports.

"Apple can import iPhones (regardless of who supplies the modems) that do not infringe the patents asserted in this action, but Apple has no inherent right to infringe Qualcomm's [non-standards essential patents] through the sale of its iPhones," the filing reads. "Preventing such infringement, and thereby rewarding innovation, is the very purpose for which the patent system was designed."

When the publication reached out to Apple for a response, the company simply pointed to a recent filing that reads: "Apple's iPhone is the reason consumers fell in love with smartphones and this continues to push Apple to create and innovate with new products and technologies, such as iPhone X Face ID. Qualcomm's paid advertising makes wildly inflated claims about its role in the development of the smartphone, but the facts show that it was Apple that put an easy-to-use computer-phone in the palm of people's hands, not Qualcomm."

Aside from the modems, Qualcomm is also pointing to the multitasking interface of the iPhone X, which is apparently similar to the old interface of webOS. The chipmaker apparently owns the patents for this interface, which Qualcomm argues means that Apple is committing more infringements, The Verge reports.