Sale, along with import of most iPhone models have been banned in China due to a lawsuit filed by Qualcomm, an American multinational telecommunications equipment company. Apple says the ban only applies to devices with an older operating system.  

Newer models such as the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Plus or iPhone XR, have not been covered by the ban as they were not available when the lawsuit was filed. A court gave a pair of preparatory injunctions that were requested by Qualcomm, claiming that Apple currently violates two of its patents in the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7, I Phone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X.  The patent allows people to edit and resize photos on a phone, and to manage their apps by using a touchscreen, according to Qualcomm. According to Apple, the patents currently in question only affect iOS 11, the operating system that launched in 2017 for iPhones and iPads. iPhones sold today currently run iOS 12, the newest version of the software.  

“Qualcomm’s effort to ban our products is another desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world,” Said Apple in a statement. “All iPhone models remain available for our customers in China. Qualcomm is asserting three patents they had never raised before, including one which has already been invalidated. We will pursue all our legal options through the courts.” Qualcomm said it would continue to enforce the injunctions.  

In 2017, Qualcomm was sued by Apple for $1 Billion after it ceased to pay for its rights to put its chips in iPhones. Qualcomm retained its payments after it went under investigation by the European Union, who later deemed the payments illegal, ordering Qualcomm to pay a $1.2 Billion fine in January 2018.  

On Monday, Apple’s shares lost 2%, but later returned positive. Qualcomm’s shares, on the other hand rose 3%. Down negative for 2018, and stock down 26%, Apple’s stock is not in its prime right now.