Apple Ordered to Pull Part of Press Statement in iPhone Case

Apple Ordered to Pull Part of Press Statement in iPhone Case
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Apple was ordered to stop using part of a press release that claims all iPhones would still be available in Germany after it was banned from distributing several versions of the device in the country, according to Bloomberg.

Qualcomm, which won an iPhone ban in December, obtained a preliminary injunction stopping its rival from using a statement that Apple distributed to the press in response to the initial ruling. The court said Apple’s release was misleading because the December judgment also ordered Apple to recall the products from resellers, according to a copy of the decision obtained by Bloomberg.

"The press release is misleading because it contains statements that are at least potentially deceptive about the availability of the goods," the judges wrote. "The statement conveys the impression of unlimited availability.

The same court in December granted Qualcomm an injunction banning sales of the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and X in Germany, giving the chipmaker another weapon in its long and bitter licensing battle with Apple. In its subsequent press statement, Apple said while the devices would no longer be sold in its own stores, they would be still be available at mobile phone companies and resellers in 4,300 outlets in Germany.