Some iPhone 15, 16, and 17 fashions may very well be banned in the USA amid a preliminary ruling that Chinese language show maker BOE infringed on Samsung’s OLED commerce secrets and techniques (by way of Korea’s ETNews).
A preliminary ruling from the USA Worldwide Commerce Fee (ITC) discovered that that BOE and 7 of its subsidiaries violated the U.S. Tariff Act by misappropriating confidential OLED know-how from Samsung Show. The ruling recommends each a restricted exclusion order, which might block imports of infringing OLED panels and modules into the USA, and a stop and desist order, which might cease the corporate from promoting current inventories or suppling future shipments to U.S. assemblers.
The ITC concluded that the infringing merchandise embrace OLED panels and modules in addition to units and parts containing them. Merchandise already manufactured utilizing BOE panels could be exempt from the import ban, however the ruling may have substantial implications for the iPhone going ahead.
Some iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 16, 16 Plus, and 16e fashions offered in the USA in the present day include OLED shows equipped by BOE. Many of those fashions are more likely to stay on sale after the announcement of the iPhone 17 lineup within the fall, presenting an issue for Apple if the ITC ruling is upheld. The corporate would wish to divert BOE iPhones to different international locations and be sure that fashions on sale in the USA use shows from different suppliers.
It isn’t but identified if the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air fashions may include shows from BOE. Presently, BOE solely provides Apple with shows that don’t use extra superior low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) know-how, which delivers a variable refresh charge that Apple markets as “ProMotion.” The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are anticipated to characteristic ProMotion.
BOE is planning to produce Apple with LTPO shows for the primary time this 12 months, destined for iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Professional Max fashions offered in China. Apple reportedly plans to restrict the BOE iPhone 17 Pro models to China as a result of they fail to satisfy its LTPO efficiency benchmarks. However, BOE is aggressively ramping up its OLED manufacturing capability for future iPhone fashions as a part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple’s provide chain.
The ITC’s Workplace of Unfair Import Investigations beforehand submitted a advice in December 2024 supporting Samsung’s allegations, calling for an import ban on BOE’s OLED shows and the merchandise that include them. Whereas the ruling stays preliminary, choices from the ITC hardly ever change between preliminary and ultimate judgments.
The case stems from a grievance filed by Samsung Show in October 2023, through which it alleged that BOE unlawfully used its proprietary OLED manufacturing know-how. Samsung expanded its authorized motion in April 2025 by submitting a civil go well with within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Jap District of Texas. The corporate is in search of damages associated to misplaced income, unjust enrichment, and punitive compensation.
If Apple is pressured to discover a substitute for BOE’s position within the its provide chain for U.S. iPhones, orders are more likely to shift to Samsung and LG, which already present OLED panels for a spread of iPhone fashions. A ultimate choice is predicted in November 2025, after which the President of the USA could have 60 days to find out whether or not to approve or veto the Fee’s ruling.