Apple Forced By Motorola To Remove iPads & iPhones in Germany
The move comes after a December ruling stating that Apple had failed to license one of Motorola's wireless intellectual properties.
Updated:BBC reports that Apple have been given a temporary suspension of the sales ban. Apple have removed several iPad and iPhone models from its German online store following a patent injunction filed by Motorola Mobility. The move comes after a December ruling stating that Apple had failed to license one of Motorola's wireless intellectual properties. A separate patent victory by rivals Motorola also threatens iPhone users in Germany who could lose their iCloud e-mail service, but Apple have said they will appeal the case. The direction this dispute is going could sensationally pit Apple against search giants Google as they are in the process of taking over the handset-maker, pending clearance from competition authorities. Apple's sales ban is in relation to Motorola's patent for a "method for performing a countdown function during a mobile-originated transfer for a packet radio system" and which they license to other companies by Fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. Apple has said it would be willing to pay this license fee but so far no deal has been made to determine how much Apple should pay for bypassing the technology to this date, and a dispute is spiralling. Apple said: "While some iPad and iPhone models are not available through Apple's online store in Germany right now, customers should have no problem finding them at one of our retail stores or an authorised reseller. "Apple is appealing this ruling because Motorola repeatedly refuses to license this patent to Apple on reasonable terms, despite having declared it an industry standard patent seven years ago." Motorola said they were pleased with the victory as it had offered Apple "reasonable licensing terms and conditions" since 2007 which they were ignoring. "We are pleased that the Mannheim court has recognized the importance of our intellectual property and granted an enforceable injunction in Germany against Apple Sales International," a statement said. You can read more on BBC's report on this story HERE.