Judge Issues Ruling on Qualcomm Patents

In the latest chapter is the patent infringement litigation between Qualcomm and Broadcom this week, a federal judge ruled that Qualcomm can no longer sell 3G cellular chips that infringe on Broadcom-held patents. However, Qualcomm is still allowed, per the judge, to sell certain non-3G chips through January of next year. But Broadcom will receive royalties from Qualcomm for chips sold during that 12-month period.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm announced Tuesday that it has launched new chips which comply with court rulings, the AP reported. The company said the workarounds will be finished by the end of the first quarter of 2008.

According to Reuters, Qualcomm is also only allowed to sell chips that it was selling as of March of 2007- the time of the original jury verdict- and not newer chips.