Some iPhones Could Be Banned in the U.S. Over Stolen Trade Secrets

Some iPhone 15, 16, and 17 models could beryllium banned successful the United States amid a preliminary ruling that Chinese show shaper BOE infringed connected Samsung's OLED commercialized secrets (via Korea's ETNews).


A preliminary ruling from the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) recovered that that BOE and 7 of its subsidiaries violated the U.S. Tariff Act by misappropriating confidential OLED exertion from Samsung Display. The ruling recommends some a restricted exclusion order, which would artifact imports of infringing OLED panels and modules into the United States, and a cease and desist order, which would halt the institution from selling existing inventories oregon suppling aboriginal shipments to U.S. assemblers.

The ITC concluded that the infringing products see OLED panels and modules arsenic good arsenic devices and components containing them. Products already manufactured utilizing BOE panels would beryllium exempt from the import ban, but the ruling could person important implications for the iPhone going forward.

Some ‌iPhone 15‌, 15 Plus, 16, 16 Plus, and 16e models sold successful the United States contiguous incorporate OLED displays supplied by BOE. Many of these models are apt to stay connected merchantability aft the announcement of the iPhone 17 lineup successful the fall, presenting a occupation for Apple if the ITC ruling is upheld. The institution would request to divert BOE iPhones to different countries and guarantee that models connected merchantability successful the United States usage displays from different suppliers.

It is not yet known if the ‌iPhone 17‌ and iPhone 17 Air models could incorporate displays from BOE. Currently, BOE lone supplies Apple with displays that bash not usage much precocious low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) technology, which delivers a adaptable refresh complaint that Apple markets arsenic "ProMotion." The ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ are expected to diagnostic ProMotion.

BOE is readying to proviso Apple with LTPO displays for the archetypal clip this year, destined for iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max models sold successful China. Apple reportedly plans to restrict the BOE iPhone 17 Pro models to China due to the fact that they neglect to conscionable its LTPO show benchmarks. Nevertheless, BOE is aggressively ramping up its OLED accumulation capableness for aboriginal ‌iPhone‌ models arsenic portion of a plan to recapture a large role successful Apple's proviso chain.

The ITC's Office of Unfair Import Investigations antecedently submitted a proposal successful December 2024 supporting Samsung's allegations, calling for an import prohibition connected BOE's OLED displays and the products that incorporate them. While the ruling remains preliminary, decisions from the ITC seldom alteration betwixt preliminary and last judgments.

The lawsuit stems from a ailment filed by Samsung Display successful October 2023, successful which it alleged that BOE unlawfully utilized its proprietary OLED manufacturing technology. Samsung expanded its ineligible enactment successful April 2025 by filing a civilian suit successful the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The institution is seeking damages related to mislaid profits, unjust enrichment, and punitive compensation.

If Apple is forced to find a replacement for BOE's relation successful the its proviso concatenation for U.S. iPhones, orders are apt to displacement to Samsung and LG, which already supply OLED panels for a scope of ‌iPhone‌ models. A last determination is expected successful November 2025, aft which the President of the United States volition person 60 days to find whether to o.k. oregon veto the Commission's ruling.
This article, "Some iPhones Could Be Banned successful the U.S. Over Stolen Trade Secrets" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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