The International Trade Commission has issued an import ban preventing Apple from importing several models of iPhone and iPad. The ban came after an ITC ruling that Apple had violated Samsung-owned patents related to cellular technology.
The notice, dated June 4 and published via the ITC website, names the AT&T models of the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 as well as 3G versions of the original iPad and iPad 2. It details a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order that prohibits Apple from importing or selling or distributing the aforementioned devices within the United States.
While a ban on the sale of multiple models of iPhone and iPad is no doubt bad news for Apple, it's not over yet. The ban doesn't go into effect until after a 60-day President review period and Apple still has the right to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In fact, the company has said it plans to do just that.
Speaking to AllThingsD, Apple spokesperson Kristin Huguet said:
"Today’s decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the United States. Samsung is using a strategy which has been rejected by courts and regulators around the world. They’ve admitted that it’s against the interests of consumers in Europe and elsewhere, yet here in the United States Samsung continues to try to block the sale of Apple products by using patents they agreed to license to anyone for a reasonable fee."
That said, if the appeal fails, it won't be all that bad. None of the newest iPhone or Pad models are included in the ban, which means Apple won't lose too much money if the ITC ban is upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals. Speaking to Apple Insider, Maynard Um of Wells Fargo Securities said the ban won't impact Apple's bottom line in any significant way.
