Apple says it will update software in response to China iPhone ruling that could ban its handsets

Responding to a recent Chinese court order instructing Apple to stop sales of its iPhones in China, Apple said it will release an operating system update next week to avoid potential compliance issues in an ongoing patent dispute, according to a statement on Friday from the Cupertino, California-based company.

On Monday, a statement from Qualcomm said the Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court had granted the US chip maker’s request for two preliminary injunctions against four subsidiaries of Apple, ordering them to immediately stop selling models from the iPhone 6S to iPhone X in China.

“We respect the Fuzhou court and its ruling,” said Apple in the statement. “Based on the iPhone models we offer today in China, we believe we are in compliance. To address any possible concern about our compliance with the order, early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case.”

In spite of the court injunctions, Apple has not pulled the affected iPhone models from its official online and offline sales platforms in China. On Thursday, Qualcomm confirmed that it has called on the court to enforce the rulings.

The two Qualcomm patents in dispute in China enable users to adjust and reformat photos and manage applications through touch-based navigating apps on their phones. Qualcomm has brought patent suits in China and other jurisdictions seeking bans on the sale of certain iPhone models to force Apple to the negotiating table.