The US International Trade Commission has denied Qualcomm's appeal against a ban that could stop millions of the company's phones from entering the US market.

The ITC issued the ban on June 7, which blocked the import of phones using Qualcomm chips that it says violates a patent held by Broadcom. The commission issued the denial in a ruling released yesterday.

The ruling didn't specify which prong stuck Qualcomm, but determined it failed to get a passing grade.

The ban affects versions of handsets using Qualcomm's 3G chipsets. Products that made it into the colonies before June 7 however, remain legal eagle. San Diego-based Qualcomm still has a chance taking its appeal to the very top. The company said earlier it would ask President Bush to veto the ITC order.

"We have repeatedly communicated to Qualcomm our readiness to negotiate a lasting resolution to these issues - thus far to no avail," Broadcom said in a statement. "The burden of resolving these matters rests squarely with Qualcomm."

Qualcomm representatives did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The ban is a result of a June 2005 investigation the ITC began in response to a complaint Broadcom filed alleging a patent for mobile device capabilities and power management was infringed by Qualcom. ®

Related stories

• Qualcomm surrenders in Broadcom patent spat (27 April 2009)
• California judge says Californian company can infringe patents (2 January 2008)
• Judge doubles Qualcomm patent damages (15 August 2007)
• Qualcomm loses general counsel (14 August 2007)
• Court finds Qualcomm guilty of standards abuse (8 August 2007)
• Broadcom signs licensing pact with Verizon (20 July 2007)
• Ex-Broadcom CEO broadsided by cocaine and orgy torture charges (16 July 2007)
• Court rules 3G licences weren't VAT inclusive (26 June 2007)
• Qualcomm appeals phone ban in patent spat (14 June 2007)
• US bans import of Qualcomm 3G phones (7 June 2007)
• Comment Qualcomm IPR gravy train hits the buffers (1 June 2007)
• Broadcom verdict broadsides Qualcomm (30 May 2007)
• Broadcom wins a round in war against Qualcomm (11 October 2006)
• US mulls Broadcom's Qualcomm broadside (20 June 2005)
• Broadcom broadsides Qualcomm with wireless chip IP lawsuit (19 May 2005)