The company that won a major patent ruling against Apple in Beijing last week barely even exists, The Wall Street Journal reports. Last week the Beijing Intellectual Property Office ruled that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models infringe upon the design of Baili’s 100C phone. Since that ruling, phone calls to the company in question — Shenzhen Baili Marketing Services Co.
— ring unanswered. The company’s websites are gone and visits to its registered addresses turned up no company offices.
When Baili brought its case against Apple in late 2014, it was a company with big ideas and a team of experienced executives backed by internet giant Baidu Inc. By the time it finally won that case against Apple, the company had collapsed, brought down by bad products, tough competition and mismanagement, according to former employees.
But the unit that protects Baili’s patents still presses on, and the BIPO has granted Baili a sales injunction in Beijing on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The order has been stayed while Apple’s attorneys appeal the decision, which is expected to take a few months. Baili lawyer Andy Yang said his client is also considering expanding the suit to include the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
