Re: Still, they got one over on Apple
Since Apple sells zero iPhones running iOS 11 (everything that supported it supports 12) this won't affect them. Though if iOS 12 infringes on the same patents they can probably get it added to the injunction eventually.
Given the timing of this ruling, one wonders if this is China's first salvo in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei's CFO? Because China has in the past shown little interest in banning import of ANY products due to patents held by US companies, only doing so when a patent is held by a Chinese company.
Banning sales of the only US based smartphone vendor operating in China is even better than a tariff, because it is not really possible for the US to retaliate for via tariffs, which seems to be the only tool Trump thinks there is in a trade war. The stakes are getting more serious now. If there are any similar lawsuits pending against Ford or IBM or other major US companies operating in China, I would guess they are going to start moving through the courts very quickly.