Apple confirmed that the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and 3G/UMTS-based iPads should be returning to the shelves of its German online store in a matter of hours. Earlier today we reported that Apple has removed, as a result of an injunction Motorola won in Mannheim over a FRAND-pledged patents declared essential to an industry standard, several 3G/UMTS-capable products from its German online store – the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 4 (but not the iPhone 4S), and all 3G/UMTS-capable iPads.
According to BBC, “Apple has been granted a temporary suspension of a sales ban imposed on some of its products in Germany. An appeals court lifted the ban after Apple made a new licence payment offer.” Apple’s iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 had all been affected – but not its newer iPhone 4S. All 3G models of the iPad were involved, but not their wi-fi-only counterparts.
A statement from Apple said, “All iPad and iPhone models will be back on sale through Apple’s online store in Germany shortly. Apple appealed this ruling because Motorola repeatedly refuses to license this patent to Apple on reasonable terms, despite having declared it an industry standard patent seven years ago.”
“A very plausible explanation would be that Apple made a new offer to Motorola to license its standard essential patents – the new offer was certainly discussed in court this afternoon. The appeals court may have felt that meant that the suspension should be lifted.” However, Germany-based users may still face the loss of their push email iCloud service after a separate ruling.
