Apple called its former supplier Imagination Technologies' statements 'inaccurate and misleading' (AAPL)

pulse

July 7, 2017 12:27 PM

Apple said Imagination Technologies had known for two years that it was working on its own graphics processors.

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Apple just hit back hard in its fight with its former supplier, UK-based Imagination Technologies.

It has accused the company of making "inaccurate and misleading" statements about the dispute, according to Bloomberg.

The two have been fighting publicly since April, when Apple said it would drop Imagination Technologies' graphics technology. The announcement came as a shock — Imagination's stock crashed and analysts were uncertain whether the business could survive. Apple brought in more than half the company's revenue, and Imagination eventually put itself up for sale.

The company opened an official dispute with Apple in May, and last month said the company had behaved unethically.

In its statement to Bloomberg, Apple said: "We’re disappointed in their response, which has been inaccurate and misleading."

Outwardly, Imagination Technologies was caught off-guard by Apple's decision to develop its own graphics tech.

Apple said Imagination had known for two years of its plans.

The company said: "We began working with Imagination in 2007 and stopped accepting new IP from them in 2015.

"After lengthy discussions we advised them on February 9 that we expected to wind down our licensing agreement since we need unique and differentiating IP for our products. We valued our past relationship and wanted to give them as much notice as possible to adapt their future plans."

Imagination has previously questioned whether Apple can make its own processors without infringing on the British company's intellectual property. According to Bloomberg, Apple said it had been using less of the company's technology in recent years.

Imagination's stock has fallen 8% at the time of writing. The company has not responded to a request for comment.

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