Qualcomm could block iPhone shipments into the US

If you haven't heard about the current Qualcomm vs. Apple licensing problems, Bloomberg is reporting that Qualcomm is going to change the game with their next move.

According to their sources, Qualcomm is going to ask the US International Trade Commission to block Apple from importing their iPhones in both Asia, and the US - months before Apple will launch its next-gen iPhone.

The two mega tech giants are fighting over Qualcomm patents that it holds, giving it power to charge Apple for their iPhones as they use IP that Qualcomm holds. Apple is legally bound to pay for Qualcomm's technology, as Apple itself has patents and charges for them - and to make it worse, Apple stopped paying Qualcomm their owed technology license payments.

I reached out to my friend Anshel Sag, Associate Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, who had the following to say about the Qualcomm/Apple battle: "The Qualcomm and Apple spat continues to potentially hurt both companies. I'm not sure that the ITC will block iPhones from being imported, but I do believe that this may actually being the two closer on the negotiating table. Apple and Qualcomm are not unfamiliar with large lawsuits, and both companies know what it's like to both win and lose such lawsuits. It would be best for both companies to eventually reach an agreement instead of airing more of each other's dirt".