Some iPhones face U.S. ban over trade secret theft

Following a preliminary ruling by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) that Chinese display maker BOE and seven of its subsidiaries infringed on Samsung Display’s confidential OLED technology, some iPhone models sold in the U.S. are facing a ban.

Notably, the ITC has recommended both a restricted exclusion order, which would block imports of infringing OLED panels and modules into the U.S., and a cease and desist order that would stop the company from selling existing inventories and supplying future shipments to U.S. assemblers, Business Korea reported on July 14.

Furthermore, it concluded that the infringing products include not just OLED panels and modules but devices and components containing them. Although the ban doesn’t include products already manufactured with BOE panels, this could still have massive implications for certain iPhone devices if the ITC decision proceeds.

What the U.S. ban could mean for iPhone

Specifically, some iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 16, 16 Plus, and 16e models currently sold in the U.S. include BOE-supplied OLED displays, many of which are likely to remain on sale after the iPhone 17 lineup announcement this fall. To comply with the ruling, Apple will have to divert BOE iPhones to other countries and make sure the models sold in the U.S. use displays from other manufacturers.

As a reminder, Samsung Display filed a complaint in October 2023, alleging that BOE unlawfully used its proprietary OLED manufacturing technology. In December 2024, the ITC’s Office of Unfair Import Investigations submitted a recommendation that supported Samsung’s claims and called for an important ban.

Meanwhile, Samsung expanded its legal action in April 2025 by filing a civil suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, seeking damages related to lost profits, unjust enrichment, and punitive compensation. A final decision should arrive in November 2025, after which the U.S. President Donald Trump will have 60 days to determine whether to approve or veto the ruling.