Colombia bans the sale and import of 5G iPhones and iPads

Apple is prohibited by the injuction from importing, offering for sale, promoting, or otherwise commercializing any items that violate the patent, including any iPhone or iPad that supports 5G.

The sale and import of Apple's 5G-equipped iPhones and iPads in Colombia have been prohibited following a court ruling that the company's products violate a patent owned by Ericsson.

According to AppleInsider, Apple has been the victim of a court ruling in Bogota, escalating an ongoing patent infringement dispute between the company and Ericsson.

The two businesses are at odds over Ericsson 5G patents that Apple is accused of violating. In April, the Juzgado 042 Civil del Circuito de Bogota in Colombia's capital ruled that claim 13 of the country's NC2019/0003681 patent is violated by Apple's 5G technology.

According to FOSS Patents, the court has determined that the patent, which was awarded to Ericsson in 2019 and is considered to be standards-essential to 5G, is still valid through December 2037.

Following the violation in April, Ericsson postd a 50,000 dollars bail the following month to allow for enforcement, according to the report. On July 6, the court issued a preliminary injuction affecting Apple Colombia S.A.S, the nation's subsidiary of the Cupertino corporation.

Apple is prohibited by the injuction from importing, offering for sale, promoting, or otherwise commercializing any items that violate the patent, including any iPhone or iPad that supports 5G.

To ensure compliance, Apple must also "warn and communicate"with merchants, social media sites,the media and other businesses.

The Direccion de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, Colombia's customs agency, is also mandated by the court to halt imports of the harmed hardware.

(With IANS Inputs)