Apple, Qualcomm face decisive trial in global chips brawl

FILE- In this Jan. 9, 2019, file photo a sign advertises 5G at the Qualcomm booth at CES International in Las Vegas. A jury announced the verdict Friday, March 15, that Apple should pay $31 million in damages for infringing on patents for technology owned by mobile chip maker Qualcomm that helps iPhones quickly connect to the internet and extend their battery life. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc have spent two years fighting around the globe over how much the chipmaker can charge for iPhones that use its patented technology, with neither landing a decisive blow. That could change with a trial starting April 15 in San Diego. 

For the first time, a US federal jury will decide if Qualcomm’s business model is legal and whether Apple had the right to stop paying royalties for the technology.