Apple has won an appeal in China over patent rights to voice recognition software such as the iPhone`s "Siri", with a court overruling an earlier decision that had gone against the US technology giant.
The legal battle begun in 2012 when Shanghai-based Zhizhen Network Technology pursued Apple for allegedly infringing its Chinese patent with Siri, its "intelligent personal assistant".
Siri responds to a user`s commands through voice recognition software and made its formal debut with the release of the iPhone 4S in 2011, while Zhizhen claims its earlier "Xiao i Robot" product works in a similar way.
Apple asked a Chinese intellectual property body to declare Zhizhen`s original patent ineffective but the request was rejected. The US firm then took legal action against both the agency and Zhizhen, but lost.
The Beijing Higher People`s Court upheld Apple`s appeal, ordering the Chinese agency to reverse its decision.
"The move means Apple`s Siri voice recognition system did not infringe the protected rights of other patents and Apple fans can continue enjoying the conveniences brought by the technology," the court said in a statement on Tuesday.
Zhizhen filed a lawsuit against Apple for intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement in June 2012 at a court in Shanghai, where the Chinese firm is based.
A verdict is still pending after hearings opened in 2013, China`s official Xinhua news agency said Friday.
The announcement came days before the long-awaited Apple Watch launched Friday in select parts of Asia including China, which is expected to be a key market.
The dispute is not the first time that Apple has been embroiled in IPR controversy in China, where its products are hugely popular.
Apple in 2012 paid $60 million to settle a dispute with another Chinese firm over the iPad trademark.