Apple Roundup: Liquidmetal, Lawsuits, China

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Wednesday's top Apple (AAPL) stories include an extended partnership with a supplier, a lawsuit against Motorola, and keeping the iPhone with one of China's major cell phone carriers.

Liquidmetal Technologies (LQMT) revealed earlier this week revealed a two-year extension of its intellectual property licensing agreement with Apple.

The revelation came via a Form 8-K filed by Liquidmetal with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Crucible Intellectual Property, a subsidiary of Liquidmetal, holds the intellectual property. The original agreement ended on Feb. 5, 2012, and run through Feb. 5, 2014.

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Apple's lawyers are set to appear before Federal Judge Richard Posner on Wednesday as the company continues its patent infringement lawsuit against Motorola Mobility, which is now owned by Google (GOOG).

Apple's lawsuit seeks to block some of Motorola's phone models because of patent infringement. Judge Posner perviously canceled the trial after finding Apple could not prove any damages, but he decided to give the Cupertino, Calif.-based company a second chance last week.

Apple could not be immediately reached for comment on the lawsuit.

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Apple's agreement with China Unicom (CHU) to bring the iPhone to the mobile carrier is set to expire this month. The two companies are hopeful that a new contract can be reached to keep the iPhone with China Unicom.

China Unicom started selling the iPhone in 2009, and has had tremendous success with the latest versions of the device, including the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Upon the release of the iPhone 4S in China, there was a mob outside an Apple Store, as consumers clamored for the device. That prompted Apple to temporarily suspend sales of all iPhones at all of its 5 mainland China stores for safety reasons. The suspension has since been lifted.

Shares of Apple were edging lower in late morning action, off 0.44% at $584.84.

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--Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York

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