Apple vs Qualcomm: Key takeaways from the latest patent rulings

The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled twice in a long-running patent battle between Apple Inc. and Qualcomm Inc.

What happened on Tuesday:
In the first case, an ITC judge found that Apple infringed a Qualcomm power-saving patent and said she would recommend an import ban on some older models of the iPhone. In the second ruling, which came after the market closed, the full commission ruled against Qualcomm. That was a final decision in a separate, earlier case about a different patent.

What you need to know:
Neither side won. But Apple dodged a real headache with the second decision. The company avoids an import ban that would have affected a broad range of iPhones, including the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the discontinued iPhone X. There’s less impact from the first ruling. It just covers the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. A final decision from the full commission on the judge’s