Broadcom wins major injunction against Qualcomm

In the latest major twist in this epic battle between wireless chipmakers, a US District Judge has slapped a permanent injunction on any products containing those Qualcomm 3G chips ruled to be infringing on Broadcom's so-called '686 patents. Not only can Qualcomm no longer offer infringing devices nor the chips themselves in the US, the retroactive nature of the ruling means that the company can't even provide service or technical support for '686 products already on the market. At this point, with a voluntary licensing agreement seemingly off the table, the next move for Qualcomm is establishing a plan of action to show Judge James Selna how it plans to redesign its products into compliance. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via Reuters]

[oliver @ Dec 31st 2007 9:45PM]

Actually, what the article says is that Qualcomm can keep selling chips it has already been selling until January 2009, but only to existing customers. And they must pay a royalty. And after 2009, they can't sell them at all anymore.

There is nothing retroactive about this. Did you read the article?

[R1cebrner @ Dec 31st 2007 9:38PM]

wow that sux wonder if that means i can't get a replacement phone if mine breaks

[Wagnus @ Dec 31st 2007 9:43PM]

Hello everybody. Happy new year from denmark it's 03.40 here and i'm about too find a bed:) hop you all have a nice year and please stop with the new for once i can't fall a sleep if you keep posting:p.

[xbit @ Dec 31st 2007 10:08PM]

* readies the world's smallest violin for Qualcomm.