Cases & Deals

Qualcomm pursues trade secret and contract claims asserting Apple's misuse of Qualcomm's trade secret software and source code

Client(s) Qualcomm Incorporated

Jones Day represented Qualcomm Incorporated and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. in a lawsuit asserting trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract claims against Apple Inc. Qualcomm claimed that Apple misused Qualcomm's trade secret software and source code for baseband modem processor technology. Qualcomm also sought specific performance of Apple's obligations to cooperate with an audit of its handling of Qualcomm's software.

The lawsuit settled in April 2019 when Qualcomm and Apple reached a global settlement of all litigation between the companies worldwide. The settlement included payment by Apple to Qualcomm, a six-year license agreement with a two-year option to extend, and a multiyear chipset supply agreement.

Qualcomm Incorporated v. Apple Inc., No. 2017-00041389 (Super. Ct. San Diego Cty., Cal.)