(Yicai Global) Jan. 4 -- Apple must respect a Fuzhou court's decision to ban the American smartphone maker from selling certain handsets in China, according to a non-government organization that aims to protect intellectual property rights.

The court's ruling on Qualcomm's infringement case against Apple must be fulfilled, state-backed People's Daily cited the China Anti-Infringement and Anti-Counterfeit Innovation Strategic Alliance as saying in Beijing. As a world-renowned company that has benefited a lot from China, Apple should comply with the ban, it added, saying adhering to the decision is critical for Apple's image around the world.

If Apple continues to ignore the ruling, the CAASA will help Qualcomm take legal action against the California-based firm, the organization said.

The Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court in Fujian province ruled on Dec. 10 that Apple must stop selling handsets that violates two Qualcomm patents in China. The affected models included seven different iPhones, with the iPhone X among them. Apple has continued to sell the devices, saying it has updated the operating system they use to one that does not use the chipmaker's technology.

Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group Holding was among over 100 companies and universities that founded the CAASA in January 2015. The alliance works under guidance of the China Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association -- which the nation' s cabinet signed off on -- to fight counterfeit products and IP violations to promote innovation and development.

Editor: James Boynton