Tensions between iPhone maker Apple Inc. (AAPL) and components supplier Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) have been heating up ever since the🅘 latter filed a lawsuit against 𒀰the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech titan in November 2017.  

Now, Qualcomm is seeking to tack on additional charges to the current lawsuit, indicating that Apple stole "vast swaths" of trade secrets and confidential information through their partnership in order to help out rival semiconductor manufacturer Intel Corp. (INTC), as reported by .&ಌnbsp;At large, the dispute demonstrates the degree to which chip makers within the Apple ecosystem are at the mercy of the smartphone maker and its iPhone cycles♒.

(See also: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:3 Reasons to Buy Qualcomm: Cowen.)

Chip Maker Claims Smartphone Giant S✱tole Code to Help Rival Improve Underperforming Chips

The recent development is being viewed as a tactic by Qualcomm to pressure the smartphone giant to settle. The existing lawsuit against Apple accuses the firm of breaching a "master software agreement" that it agreed to when it inked a deal with Qualcomm earlier this decade. In not allowing it to audit Apple's use of its source code, Qualcomm says the firm breached terms of the contract. Apple has sued Qualcomm for extracting royalties that it views as too high, cutting off licensing payments from the iPad and iPhone, which is eating into the semiconductor manufacturer's profits. 

The dispute has gone back and forth, with Qualcomm also accusing the iPhone maker of patent infringement. Earlier this year, the components supplier announce that Apple would no longer be using its chips for up𒐪coming iPhone models. 

The chip maker reportedly said in its news filing that documents provided through the current trial's discovery process include email correspondence and source code development history suggesting that Apple stole source code and tools specifically to help Intel overcome engineering flaws that led to their poor performance in iPhones. 

Qualcomm's general counsel, Donald Rosenberg, tells CNBC that the case stands on its own and would have been filed despite the on-going battle with the iPhone maker. 

Qualcomm is aiming for the curre﷽nt lawsuit to be amended and on track for its court date in April. 

(For more, see also: Qualcomm Says Apple Dropping Its iPhone Modems.)