While Apple gets set to unveil its 2018 iPhones on September 13, the company is currently under serious investigation in South Korea for patent infringement. According to Korean media, Apple’s FinFET-related patents allegedly infringes on the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAIST) property. Presently, the company is being investigated by the South Korean government.
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The focus of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and Apple’s controversy is that the former alleged that Apple iPhone infringed KAIST’s FinFET-related patents which helps to improve performance while reducing power consumption. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea said it has launched an investigation into Apple. If it finally gives a negative result to Apple, then devices such as iPhone X may face the risk of being banned. Previously, KAIST successfully sued Samsung in the United States and won $400 million in damages. Samsung has appealed to the court to rule that KAIST’s FinFET-related patents are invalid.
At present, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy has not yet ruled on Apple’s infringement case, but the department has hinted that the final conclusion may be unfavorable to Apple. It is reported that not only iPhone X is affected. Other Apple devices such as iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, 9.7-inch iPad, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, 10.5-inch iPad. Pro and 12.9-inch iPad Pro and more are also involved.