Beijing’s intellectual property authority has ruled Apple violated the design patents of a Chinese device maker and may have to halt sales of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the city, reports Bloomberg.
The Apple smartphones infringe on Shenzhen Baili’s patent rights because of similarities to its 100C phone (pictured), according to the Beijing Intellectual Property Office wrote in its decision. Apple can appeal the ruling and could be allowed to continue selling its phones during the process. While the decision covers only Beijing, future lawsuits against Apple could take the case as a precedent, potentially influencing the outcomes of litigation elsewhere in China, notes Bloomberg.
CNBC says Apple has immediately appealed that ruling and that all company products are still for sale throughout the country.
It’s the latest set-back for the Cupertino, California-based company in Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China and the world’s third most populous city. Last month, Apple was denied exclusive ownership of the “iPhone” name in China. Per a ruling by the The Beijing Municipal High People’s Court, Apple lost trademark suit against Xintong Tiandi Technology (Beijing) Co., which now holds the right to make and sell handbags and other leather products branded “IPHONE.”
