SAN FRANCISCO: Apple has expanded its legal battle against Qualcomm, accusing the US chipmaker of charging for invalid patents in the latest twist in the clash between the two tech giants.
In legal filings in a federal court in California on Tuesday, Apple claimed that several Qualcomm patents were invalid because they conflict with existing patents, while other patents were not essential for cellphone communications, according to details of the lawsuit reported by The Wall Street Journal.
In January the iPhone maker filed a lawsuit complaining that Qualcomm — which produces chips widely used in smartphones and tablets around the world — abused its market power to demand unfair royalties and demanded billions of dollars in compensation.
Apple filed two similar complaints against Qualcomm in China days later.
However, Qualcomm countersued in April, claiming that Apple breached agreements and encouraged regulatory attacks worldwide on Qualcomm.
“Qualcomm’s illegal business practices are harming Apple and the entire industry,” Apple said in an email Tuesday to AFP.
“They supply us with a single connectivity component, but for years have been demanding a percentage of the total cost of our products — effectively taxing Apple’s innovation.”
Qualcomm, in a statement by legal counsel Don Rosenberg, denied the accusations.
Apple “knows well” that “Qualcomm’s innovations are at the heart of every iPhone and enable the most important uses and features of those devices,” Rosenberg said.
“It simply is untrue that Qualcomm is seeking to collect royalties for Apple innovations that have nothing to do with Qualcomm’s technology.”
In January, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hit Qualcomm with an antitrust suit alleging it abused its dominant market position for processors, resulting in higher prices for consumers.
The complaint said Qualcomm’s practices amount to “unlawful maintenance of a monopoly in baseband processors,” which are devices that enable cellular communications in phones and other products. Qualcomm rejected the claims as “flawed.”
The San Diego, California, group in 2015 agreed to pay $975 million to settle antitrust charges in China.
Qualcomm is challenging a EU competition inquiry, which could result in a fine of up to 10 percent of its annual sales, which amounted to $26.5 billion in 2015.
Apple opens new round in battle with Qualcomm
Apple opens new round in battle with Qualcomm
New ownership rules spark foreign demand for Saudi real estate
RIYADH: Property developers in Saudi Arabia are seeing increased interest from international investors following the Kingdom’s recent amendments to real estate ownership laws, industry figures told Arab News.
Speaking at the Real Estate Future Forum in Riyadh, developers said the new regulations permitting foreign ownership of land are beginning to influence market behavior, including decisions by developers and speculators.
The updated regulatory framework officially came into effect on Jan. 22, enabling non-Saudis to apply for property ownership through the Saudi Arabia Real Estate digital platform.
Under the new rules, foreign individuals, companies, and entities are allowed to own property across the Kingdom, including in major urban centers such as Riyadh and Jeddah. Ownership in Makkah and Madinah, however, remains limited to Saudi companies and Muslim individuals.
Developers say the policy shift is already shaping large-scale projects, including Alma Destination on the Red Sea coast.
The waterfront mixed-use tourism development is opening opportunities for hospitality operators and investors, with plans encompassing residential units, hospitality offerings, marina facilities, and entertainment venues.
Zuhair Bakheet, CEO of Al Thuraya Al Omranya Properties and master developer of Alma Destination, said the project’s location in Jeddah, situated between the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, enhances its appeal to international buyers.
“If we attract people who would love to have a unit within the Makkah and Madinah region, it’s a good option. If we think of Muslim countries like … Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, they would love to have a unit within close proximity of the holy cities,” he said.
Another developer factoring the regulatory change into its strategy is Emaar Economic City, the main developer of King Abdullah Economic City.
Emaar Economic City Chief Investment Officer Ali Al-Khatib told Arab News that the new framework represents a major shift for the sector. “We believe these new regulations for non-Saudi ownership are a significant turning point in the real estate sector in the Kingdom, and specifically for King Abdullah Economic City.
“We’ve already seen interest before the system was launched from last year … we’ve had interests from all around the world from Southeast Asia, from Africa, from Europe, from the West.”
