(Yicai Global) Dec. 17 -- Four Apple suppliers that are suing Qualcomm in the United States are preparing for trial this coming spring after the chipmaker successfully got a Chinese court to ban multiple iPhone models from the world's largest smartphone market.

Wistron Group, Compal Electronics, Pegatron and Hon Hai Precision Industry -- better known as Foxconn -- are preparing to take the case to trial in April, the attorney for the quartet told Yicai Global. They are demanding USD9 billion in compensation but could get as much as USD27 billion, he added.

The suppliers filed the lawsuit on July 18, 2017, claiming Qualcomm violated the Sherman Act -- a federal US law designed to make free competition a basic rule of trade. And after Qualcomm got a range of Apple handsets banned from Chinese retail shelves, they are showing no signs of willingness to settle.

San Diego-based Qualcomm gained traction in its lengthy legal battle against Apple on Nov. 30, when a court in China's Fujian province passed two temporary national bans that prevented the sale of iPhones that Qualcomm believes infringed on its patents. Handsets affected include the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and X.