Apple Pulls All 3G Devices Except iPhone 4S from German Online Store Following Motorola Patent Win [Updated]

MacRumors · Feb 3, 2012

Bloomberg reports that Apple has removed all non-iPhone 4S devices with 3G technology from its German online store following a win by Motorola in the ongoing patent dispute between the two companies. The devices, which include the 3G iPad 2, iPhone 4, and iPhone 3GS, remain available from Apple's physical stores and other resellers in the country.

iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS removed from Apple's German online store

The removal is related to enforcement of a December injunction focused on a Motorola patent on 3G GPRS technology.

“While some iPad and iPhone models are not available through Apple’s online store in Germany right now, customers should have no problem finding them at one of our retail stores or an authorized reseller,” [Apple spokesman Alan] Hely said.

Beyond the 3G issue, Motorola has also won an injunction against Apple related to its iCloud services. Motorola has yet to seek enforcement of that ban, but could do so if it elected to post a $132 million bond to help cover penalties if it ultimately loses the case on appeal.

iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G models removed from Apple's German online store

Apple is appealing both decisions, but has apparently agreed to remove the numerous 3G devices from its German online store while the process remains ongoing.

Update: SlashGear reports that Apple has issued a statement claiming that the 3G GPRS injunction has already been suspended and that the affected iPhone and iPad devices will return to the German online store "shortly".

Apple has been granted a suspension of the German injunction against 3G-enabled iOS devices, with the iPad WiFi + 3G, iPhone 4 and other gadgets back on sale through the company’s online store. ”All iPad and iPhone models will be back on sale through Apple’s online store in Germany shortly” the company told us in a statement. “Apple appealed this ruling because Motorola repeatedly refuses to license this patent to Apple on reasonable terms, despite having declared it an industry standard patent seven years ago.”

Update 2: The affected devices are now available again in the German online store.

Article Link: Apple Pulls All 3G Devices Except iPhone 4S from German Online Store Following Motorola Patent Win [Updated]

dethmaShine · Feb 3, 2012

In two points:

- Motorolo's patent is ridiculously naive.
- Apple finally paid for its bitches.

djrod · Feb 3, 2012

patentpalooza!

oliversl · Feb 3, 2012

I generally against patents, but at least Apple sues using "easy to understand" patents, not like Samsung suing using the 3G patent that Broadcom pay for and Google(Motorola) suing Apple using the "synchronizing email" patent?

Come on, Google and Samsung are bad, really bad companies right now. They steal and lie to users.

http://www.cultofmac.com/116250/samsung-does-not-copy-apple-at-all-sure/

TheJing · Feb 3, 2012

That's funny.

MH01 · Feb 3, 2012

So is Apple trying to push their 4S, or just sulking?

TheJing · Feb 3, 2012

oliversl said:
I generally against patents, but at least Apple sues using "easy to understand" patents, not like Samsung suing using the 3G patent that Broadcom pay for and Google(Motorola) suing Apple using the "synchronizing email" patent?

Come on, Google and Samsung are bad, really bad companies right now. They steal and lie to users.

What are they stealing and what lies are they telling to their users?

*LTD* · Feb 3, 2012

While some iPad and iPhone models are not available through Apples online store in Germany right now, customers should have no problem finding them at one of our retail stores or an authorized reseller, [Apple spokesman Alan] Hely said.

So essentially nothing has changed.

MH01 · Feb 3, 2012

oliversl said:
I generally against patents, but at least Apple sues using "easy to understand" patents, not like Samsung suing using the 3G patent that Broadcom pay for and Google(Motorola) suing Apple using the "synchronizing email" patent?

Come on, Google and Samsung are bad, really bad companies right now. They steal and lie to users.

And Apple sues cause they are kind, nice and righteous? I guess you have never bought an Apple Rev A product that had a major defect and apple refused to acknowledge that it existing till a fix was rolled out.

iOrlando · Feb 3, 2012

Impact shouldn't be too great. Apple most likely saw this ruling coming and upped 3G iDevice shipments to Germany so I would imagine the supply channel is filled to the brim.

I would suspect the lawsuit gets figured out in time for iPhone 5 (or even the new iPad).

samcraig · Feb 3, 2012

*LTD* said:
While some iPad and iPhone models are not available through Apples online store in Germany right now, customers should have no problem finding them at one of our retail stores or an authorized reseller, [Apple spokesman Alan] Hely said.

So essentially nothing has changed.

Not entirely accurate. But keep on spinning the spin, LTD.

Maltz · Feb 3, 2012

MH01 said:
So is Apple trying to push their 4S, or just sulking?

Um, neither. They agreed to pull those products after their loss in court. They're probably lucky they didn't have to pull the 4S, unless it's been redesigned to avoid the patent issue somehow.

hobo.hopkins · Feb 3, 2012

I can see this thread now; for some this will be heralded as a fantastic thing because everything patent-related is exclusive to Apple. Others will say that it's ridiculous because any downturn patent-related in Apple's case must be a fluke or incorrect.

Can't wait.

adamtore · Feb 3, 2012

oliversl said:
I generally against patents, but at least Apple sues using "easy to understand" patents, not like Samsung suing using the 3G patent that Broadcom pay for and Google(Motorola) suing Apple using the "synchronizing email" patent?

Come on, Google and Samsung are bad, really bad companies right now. They steal and lie to users.

http://www.cultofmac.com/116250/samsung-does-not-copy-apple-at-all-sure/

I am afraid the only bogus suits are Apples fault.

Samsung and Moto are suing over true tech. patents and not community designs. Apple has no in-house tech what so ever.

smellalot · Feb 3, 2012

I so wish they would just sell them really really cheap like samsung did when their tablet got banned here in germany

MH01 · Feb 3, 2012

*LTD* said:
While some iPad and iPhone models are not available through Apples online store in Germany right now, customers should have no problem finding them at one of our retail stores or an authorized reseller, [Apple spokesman Alan] Hely said.

So essentially nothing has changed.

Yup! you cannot read and comprehend negative facts in relation to Apple.

The only thing that will never essentially change on MR is your religious zealot style devotion to Apple. Your not single by chance are you?????

Tiger8 · Feb 3, 2012

MH01 said:
So is Apple trying to push their 4S, or just sulking?

I think it was noted before that Apple went with a different approach with 4S, it does not seem to use any of Motorola Patents.

tarasis · Feb 3, 2012

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B5141a Safari/7534.48.3)

Seems like a crap injunction if it only prevents them selling those devices online but can still sell them in shops. In the end great for Apple as it likely means some more 4Ss sold where people might have bought a 4.

If Motorola do win though I'll be interested to see what Apple does regarding the iPhone 5 & iPad 3

MH01 · Feb 3, 2012

Maltz said:
Um, neither. They agreed to pull those products after their loss in court. They're probably lucky they didn't have to pull the 4S, unless it's been redesigned to avoid the patent issue somehow.

so why pull out of one channel and not out of retail stores or authorized resellers. Given authorized resellers will offer these products through online purchases, it seems like they are spitting the dummy or using it as an excuse to push 4S models.

voonyx · Feb 3, 2012

Too bad its a frand patent and apple has billions of dollars on hand.

atomicbloke · Feb 3, 2012

I am thinking of patenting the process of wiping one's ass.

If successful, then everyone one the planet who takes a dump will have to pay me patent royalties.

FakeWozniak · Feb 3, 2012

I wonder if Apple did it voluntarily or Google, ahem, Motorola finally requested action.

In the end, if Google, ahem, Motorola ends up being wrong, say taking improper advantage of a FRAND patent, then I suspect Germany allows for Apple to get damages for the earlier enforcement and lost sales/profits.

----------

MH01 said:
so why pull out of one channel and not out of retail stores or authorized resellers. Given authorized resellers will offer these products through online purchases, it seems like they are spitting the dummy or using it as an excuse to push 4S models.

I think the online store purchases ship from Ireland. The physical stores have physical stock.

----------

tarasis said:
If Motorola do win though I'll be interested to see what Apple does regarding the iPhone 5 & iPad 3

Apple will always ship the product quicker than the courts can prevent it.

sexualchocolate · Feb 3, 2012

*LTD* said:
While some iPad and iPhone models are not available through Apples online store in Germany right now, customers should have no problem finding them at one of our retail stores or an authorized reseller, [Apple spokesman Alan] Hely said.

So essentially nothing has changed.

While you can still get the devices, one of the easiest ways of buying them is now unavailable. There are only a few Apple Stores in Germany, so you will have to get it from other resellers. Just because something is still available somewhere, doesn't mean it won't affect sales of the product when the most convenient way has been eliminated.
"Derzeit nicht verfügbar" also gives the Impression, that the product is currently unavailable, and not just out of stock. Some people might be discouraged to look elsewhere when the official Apple Store says that.

AaronEdwards · Feb 3, 2012

tarasis said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B5141a Safari/7534.48.3)

Seems like a crap injunction if it only prevents them selling those devices online but can still sell them in shops. In the end great for Apple as it likely means some more 4Ss sold where people might have bought a 4.

If Motorola do win though I'll be interested to see what Apple does regarding the iPhone 5 & iPad 3

Different price segments, so while some people may pick a 4S instead of a 4, they will lose sales to Samsung/HTC/etc, and some will just wait. In the end this will be a net negative for Apple.

The Phazer · Feb 3, 2012

oliversl said:
I generally against patents, but at least Apple sues using "easy to understand" patents, not like Samsung suing using the 3G patent that Broadcom pay for and Google(Motorola) suing Apple using the "synchronizing email" patent?

Patents are supposed to be "non-obvious".

If it's easy to understand, the chances are it shouldn't be a patent in the first place.

Phazer

Apple Pulls All 3G Devices Except iPhone 4S from German Online Store Following Motorola Patent Win [Updated]

macrumors bot

macrumors 68000

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502a

Suspended

macrumors 6502a

macrumors G4

Suspended

macrumors 68000

macrumors P6

macrumors member

macrumors 6502a

macrumors member

macrumors 6502

Suspended

macrumors 68020

macrumors 6502a

Suspended

macrumors 6502a

macrumors member

macrumors 6502

macrumors newbie

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 68030

Our Staff