Qualcomm Throws New Lawsuit Against Over Reports Of Intel Replacement

Reports of Apple dropping Qualcomm in favor of Intel and other manufacturers to provide it parts have apparently gotten under the mobile processing giant’s skin. On Wednesday, Qualcomm filed another lawsuit against Apple, which adds to the bonfire of legal disputes between the two companies. This time, the chip maker is saying that the Cupertino giant helped Intel by giving them access to Qualcomm’s code.

The lawsuit being filed pertains to a supposed breach of contract on the part of Apple, Bloomberg reports. Qualcomm is accusing Apple of sharing access to licensed software that allows devices to connect to wireless networks, which the chip maker owns. This is supposedly how Intel managed to give its manufacturing technology a boost, which would then allow it to supplant Qualcomm as the main supplier of the technology.

The rest of the legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple, which has been heating up for months, is due to the matter of patent fees. The chip maker wants the iPhone manufacturer to keep paying for its patent license while the Cupertino firm believes the mobile processing giant is charging too much.

In the newest lawsuit, Qualcomm is saying that Apple allowed other parties (i.e. Intel) to look at the software it provided for its mobile devices. The company is also alleging that the iPhone maker is refusing to have its use of the software audited, to see if it's being used as stipulated in their contract.

This is likely an attempt by Qualcomm to remain Apple’s largest supplier of essential mobile components, which is its biggest source of revenue. The whole legal debacle has already cost the company 90 percent of its profits for the recent quarter. If Intel assumes Qualcomm’s current role, the company is going to be in hot water among investors.

For its part, Qualcomm states that its chips are already proven and tested, and it is still willing to support Apple’s products. It just so happens that Apple wants to cut ties with the company, which would be devastating for its bottom-line.