Beijing's Intellectual Property Office has ruled that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus violate the design patents of a Chinese phone maker. The ruling orders Appleto stopits sales of both these models in the city.

In the latest of setbacks that the tech giantis dealing with in China, Beijing'sintellectual property authorityruled that the companyhas to cease its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sales in the country. Both these phones infringe Shenzhen Baili's patent rights for its 100C smartphone,Bloomberg reported.

The iPhone 6 andiPhone 6 Plusinfringe onShenzhen Baili’s patent rights because of similarities to its 100C phone, the Beijing Intellectual Property Officewrotein its decision. Apple, whose iconic gadgets helped define the modern smartphone industry, said it’s appealing the ruling and is continuing to sell various iPhone 6 models during the process.

Troubles for Apple in Chinese market continue

Not the first time for Apple to have come under the Chinese government's fire, as the leading tech company has often to deal with lawsuits and patent rulings in the country. Last month we saw a report of a ruling where Apple lost exclusive rights to its iPhone trademark to a leather accessories manufacturer. This is just another weird intellectual properly ruling in the country working against Apple. IP specialists have said that there are no valid grounds for this ruling, as many lower courts rule in favor of the local companies that are later overturned by higher courts. However, this does set a precedent for other Chinese companiesto seek court rulings and potential financial settlements against the U.S. companies.

If the ruling is not overturned, Apple wouldn't be able to sell the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6s Plus. However, it is only applicable within Beijing. Apple has released astatement, saying that the company has appealed the order and that its phones are available for sale as the order has been stayed.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as well as iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone SE models are all available for sale today in China. We appealed an administrative order from a regional patent tribunal in Beijing last month and as a result the order has been stayed pending review by the Beijing IP Court.

Apple is not likely to lose its appeal, but the latest ruling illustrates the growing challenges that the companyis facing in China, its largest market outside of the United States.