Beijing bans sale of iPhone 6 in China in patent infringement suit

More bad news for Apple, Beijing has halted sales of its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in China, thanks to a patent infringement tribunal.

The Beijing Intellectual Property Office ruled in favour of local company Shenzhen Baili, who claimed the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus looked similar enough to their own smartphone 100C, that it might confuse consumers and therefore constitutes patent infringement.

Of course, one must first consider all the China-based smartphone manufacturers building iPhone-like smartphones, and then wonder if this lawsuit is legitimate. Clearly, the plaintiff company is hoping Apple settles out of court to protect its investment. In the past, lawsuits against the American giant in China have not gone well, including the company losing a trademark battle with a local company that makes leather goods. This is in addition to China already having shut down iBooks and iTunes Movies in April.

While the ban  does stop Apple from selling its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in China, the phones are nearly two years old now and reaching the end of their expected lifetime anyway. Even so, Apple is having none of that. The company has appealed the decision in Beijing courts, and the suspension order has been put on hold, pending review by the Beijing IP Court.