Qualcomm has stepped up its legal battle against Apple, filing three new patent infringement claims against the iPhone maker, claiming the company’s most recent iPhone violates a total of 16 Qualcomm patents.
Most of the patents in question cover technologies like carrier aggregation, memory designs, and power management features that are designed help to reduce battery usage, but in one claim, Qualcomm says Apple is using a depth-based image enhancement technique for Portrait mode that violates a Qualcomm patent.
Qualcomm has also filed a new complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) in relation to five of the patents. It is asking the ITC to stop imports of iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models that use chips from Intel. Those devices are sold for use on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks.
The lawsuits allege Apple is infringing on 16 Qualcomm patents related to technologies that boost bandwidth in phones, save power and enhance photos from dual rear-facing cameras, among other things.
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In the lawsuit, Qualcomm once again says its inventions form the “very core” of “modern mobile communication,” and that without Qualcomm technology, Apple products “would lose much of their consumer appeal.”
Qualcomm is seeking damages, the amount which will be proven at trial, attorney fees, and a permanent injunction against Apple.
The court battle between Apple and Qualcomm began in January of this year, and has stepped up over the last several months.
