Ericsson sues Apple for 41 patent infringements in the US looking to ban the iPhone
Ericsson has launched a lawsuit against Apple claiming that the iPhone manufacturer is breaching 41 of its technology patents.
The Swedish communications technology company filed complaints with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and the International Trade Commission (ITC) asserting that the Californian firm breached 41 of its patents in its iPhones and iPads.
The patents, relating to 2G and 4G/LTE technology, semiconductor component designs, user interface software, location services and applications, as well as the iOS operating system available in modern iPhones, have all allegedly been breached due to the expiration of an international agreement between the firms last month.
Kasim Alfalahi, chief intellectual property officer at Ericsson, said: “Apple's products benefit from the technology invented and patented by Ericsson's engineers. Features that consumers now take for granted - like being able to livestream television shows or access their favourite apps from their phone - rely on the technology we have developed.
“We are committed to sharing our innovations and have acted in good faith to find a fair solution. Apple currently uses our technology without a license and therefore we are seeking help from the court and the ITC.”
With the complaint it filed at the ITC, Ericsson is seeking an exclusion order. The Texas district court lawsuit on the other hand will seek damages and injunctions on Apple devices.
Ericsson’s vital comms patents can make or break sales of smartphones. last December Xiaomi sales were brought to a standstill in India after the Swedish firm won a patent infringement dispute in the country.