iPhone models on the sales ban were being sold on Apple's website on Tuesday, which means US chipmaker Qualcomm's request for two preliminary injunctions against four subsidiaries of Apple haven't affected their presence.

(Photo: VCG)

Qualcomm said it won a case in a Chinese court banning some Apple phones in China as part of a long-running dispute over patents. The Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court in China granted preliminary injunctions, ordering four Chinese subsidiaries of Apple to stop selling and importing iPhones.

It's not immediately clear what the scope of the ruling is. While Qualcomm said the ban covers iPhones 6S through X, the ruling does not apply to Apple's three newest iPhones: the XS, the XS Max and the XR.

Thepaper.cn reported that Apple has sought a reconsideration of the court order, the first step in appealing the preliminary order.

The move is the latest in a long-running dispute over patents and royalties between the two California tech giants playing out in courts and administrative bodies worldwide.

"Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us. These court orders are further confirmation of the strength of Qualcomm's vast patent portfolio," said Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm executive vice president and general counsel in Monday's statement.

The China case is based on patents which enable consumers to adjust and reformat the size and appearance of photographs, and to manage applications using a touchscreen, Qualcomm said.

An Apple statement to AFP called Qualcomm's efforts a "desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world."

Apple added that Qualcomm "is asserting three patents they had never raised before, including one which has already been invalidated."

Apple said that "all iPhone models remain available for our customers in China," adding that "we will pursue all our legal options through the courts."

(With input from China Plus)