US Trade Commission bans handsets with Qualcomm chips

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has banned imports of new mobile phones and PDAs made with Qualcomm 3G semiconductors into the US after it found that the firm had violated patents owned by rival company Broadcom.

The ban is effective immediately and becomes final in 60 days.

Qualcomm was also ordered to pay $20 million in damages for infringing three Broadcom patents after a US jury verdict last month.

The ruling, however, does not affect phones with Qualcomm chips already on sale. Qualcomm is a leading developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies.

Qualcomm, is appealing against the ruling and says the ban would affect imports of millions of handsets and has moved the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals to stay enforcement of the ITC''s order and ask the president to veto the ITC''s decision since Broadcom''s patent is invalid and not infringed.