
After the recent op-ed piece from Verizon's top lawyer published by the Wall Street Journal, other top companies and regulators are similarly stepping up to defend Apple, which may soon be subjected to an iPhone sales ban.
As we know, the ITC determined last month that AT&T versions of the iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G infringe on patents owned by Samsung. Pursuant to the ruling, these devices must be banned from sale after August 3rd - this Saturday.
According to The Wall Street Journal, a growing number of companies are now voicing concern - not just for Apple alone - but also about the supposedly unfavorable precedent that would be established. Product bans resulting from alleged patent infringements or violations is bad for consumers and for business, they say.
AT&T, for example, believes that the ban would remove a critically important choice for consumers. In short, the removal from sale of older iPhones translates to a reduction of buying power for consumers on a budget looking to enter the iOS ecosystem.
BSA, a trade group representing software makers including Microsoft Corp. and Oracle Corp. and chip maker Intel Corp., said the use of essential industry patents to ban products shouldn't be allowed except under unusual circumstances.
Source: WSJ
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