Earlier this month, Qualcomm filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission seeking to ban iPhones that use chips "other than those supplied by Qualcomm affiliates". Apple began using Intel chips in the iPhone 7.

The  Computer & Communications Industry Association that represents Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook argued that barring Apple from importing foreign-assembled iPhones that use Intel modems would cause "significant shocks to supply" for phones and would hurt consumers.

While Intel is a member of this trade group, Apple is not, so it is difficult to see the fruity cargo cult’s paws on the Computer & Communications Industry Association statement.

In its filing on Monday, Qualcomm argued that its import ban is not actually about Intel's chips, but instead concerns the patented technology that surrounds the Intel chips in current versions of the iPhone.

A ban on importing the phones would not hurt competition in the long term, Qualcomm argued.

"Apple can purchase and use any LTE modem it chooses so long as it does not infringe Qualcomm’s asserted patents", the company wrote.

Qualcomm also said many other companies - including MediaTek, Samsung, Marvell, Leadcore, Spreadtrum, and HiSilicon - also make modem chips and could supply the smartphone industry.

Apple said that Qualcomm supplies Apple "with a single connectivity component, but for years have been demanding a percentage of the total cost of its products - effectively taxing Apple's innovation".

Apple and innovation are two words you don’t expect to type in the same sentence.