Apple has been ordered to pay a $502 million lump sum cost by UK courts for infringing on patents owned by Optis Mobile Know-how LLC, based mostly out of Texas. Once you embrace curiosity and charges, Optis estimates the entire sum to be in extra of $700 million. This explicit firm will not be an aggrieved innovator, however as an alternative what’s known as a “patent troll.” That’s an organization that buys up area of interest patents with the particular intent to hunt damages for infringement from profitable defendants like Apple, and it’s not their first time being awarded damages from the Cupertino large.
This lawsuit was initially filed by way of London courts in 2019 over patents governing mobile know-how, together with 4G, that Optis says was improperly utilized in iPads and iPhones. In 2023, London’s Excessive Courtroom dominated in Optis’ favor and ordered Apple to pay simply over $56 million plus curiosity to settle the dispute, inclusive of previous and future gross sales that featured the offending tech. Optis efficiently argued that this was far too low a sum, resulting in the half-a-billion-dollars in damages ordered right this moment.
The iPhone maker has discovered itself in court docket over patent infringements time and time again up to now — not solely with patent trolls, but additionally fellow industry stalwarts. The flexibility for big tech corporations to (allegedly) infringe on design or utility patents and pay pennies on the dollar for the injury completed years later appears to be a characteristic, not a bug.
Apple has unsurprisingly responded by promising to attraction the court docket's choice, to which Optis insisted it can combat to defend its mental property.
Optis offered Engadget with the next assertion:
"We’re happy the UK Courtroom of Appeals has acknowledged and corrected a clearly flawed prior ruling and has made significant progress towards affirming the true worth of our patents to Apple units. Along with ordering cost that exceeds $700 million with curiosity and charges, the Courtroom has judged that 'Apple’s vital negotiating power leads some events to agree decrease charges than could be agreed between a keen licensor/keen licensee' thereby gaining an unfair benefit. We are going to proceed to make sure honest compensation for the Optis mental property that allows high-speed connectivity for tens of millions of units all over the world."
Replace, Might 1, 2025, 11:53AM ET: This story was up to date with an announcement from Optis and particulars concerning the complete compensation inclusive of charges and curiosity.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-ordered-to-pay-502-million-to-optis-by-uk-courts-153053338.html?src=rss
Trending Merchandise
Thermaltake V250 Motherboard Sync ARGB ATX Mid-Tower Chassis with 3 120mm 5V Addressable RGB Fan + 1 Black 120mm Rear Fan Pre-Installed CA-1Q5-00M1WN-00
Dell KM3322W Keyboard and Mouse
Sceptre Curved 24-inch Gaming Monitor 1080p R1500 98% sRGB HDMI x2 VGA Construct-in Audio system, VESA Wall Mount Machine Black (C248W-1920RN Sequence)
HP 27h Full HD Monitor – Diagonal – IPS Panel & 75Hz Refresh Fee – Clean Display – 3-Sided Micro-Edge Bezel – 100mm Top/Tilt Modify – Constructed-in Twin Audio system – for Hybrid Staff,black
Wi-fi Keyboard and Mouse Combo – Full-Sized Ergonomic Keyboard with Wrist Relaxation, Telephone Holder, Sleep Mode, Silent 2.4GHz Cordless Keyboard Mouse Combo for Laptop, Laptop computer, PC, Mac, Home windows -Trueque
