Apple and its Asian contract manufacturers are hitting back at Qualcomm with legal claims that try to undermine the chipmaker’s attempt to force them to pay licensing fees.

Samsung and Apple will end all patent lawsuits between each other outside the US in a step back from three years of legal hostilities between the world’s two largest smartphone makers.

The US decision to overturn an import ban on Apple’s older iPhones and iPads may help short-term sales and hobble Samsung Electronics in any settlement talks in the companies’ patent fight.

The Obama administration has overturned a US trade panel’s ban on the sale of some older iPhones and iPads, reversing a ruling that had favoured Samsung Electronics over Apple in their long-running patent battles.

A court ruled yesterday that Microsoft infringed Motorola Mobility’s patents and ordered Microsoft to remove its Xbox 360 consoles and Windows 7 operating system software from the German market.

Photography pioneer Kodak has a little over a year to reshape its money-losing businesses and deliver a get-out-of-bankruptcy plan.

APPLE Inc scored a narrow victory against Taiwan’s HTC Corp in a patent lawsuit over smartphone technology that will set the stage for more battles between rival makers in the fiercely competitive market.

China said it strongly opposed President Barack Obama’s decision to impose punitive tariffs on imports of car and light truck tyres, denouncing it as protectionism that violates World Trade Organisation rules.

Sugar group Tate & Lyle’s shares were caned today after its patent battle against Chinese manufacturers was dealt a blow by a US court ruling.