Qualcomm Sues Apple’s Contract Manufacturers in Rising Fight

By Susan Decker and Ian King, Bloomberg News

Qualcomm Inc.’s battle with Apple Inc. is heating up as the chip company hauls assemblers of the iPhone into a U.S. court on claims they are failing to pay patent royalties.

Four Asian contract manufacturers, including Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Corp., aren’t complying with obligations to pay for the use of patented technology, according to a complaint Qualcomm said it filed in federal court in San Diego. The other two companies sued are Wistron Corp. and Compal Electronics Inc.

Unlike other smartphone companies, Apple doesn’t have a direct license with Qualcomm ...