Qualcomm: Apple stole trade secrets to help Intel

Qualcomm is taking legal action against Apple, alleging that the smartphone giant stole modem chipset trade secrets and gave them to Intel. Apple exclusively used Qualcomm models from 2011-2016 but has now reportedly switched completely to Intel. During the year-long cooperation between Apple and Qualcomm, the former received access to confidential software tools to help integrate the modems into the iPhone. Qualcomm claims it discovered that Apple engineers repeatedly used this software to help Intel engineers to improve the performance of Intel's chipsets.

They go further than the original complaint by alleging Apple stole Qualcomm trade secrets in a “multi-year campaign of sloppy, inappropriate and deceitful conduct ... for the purpose of improving lower-quality modem chipsets, including those manufactured by Intel, a competitor of Qualcomm, to render such chipsets useable in Apple devices with the ultimate goal of diverting Qualcomm’s Apple-based business to Intel.”

The accusation is made in a motion to amend a complaint that was originally filed in November. Intel is not named as a defendant in the case.

Via: Reuters