VIA Technologies Files Patent Lawsuit Against Apple Over iOS Device Processors

via technologies logoBloomberg reports that Taiwanese company VIA Technologies has filed a patent lawsuit against Apple, alleging infringement by the processors used in Apple's mobile devices.

Via, a semiconductor maker based in Taipei, seeks a jury trial and an order to prohibit Cupertino, California-based Apple from selling products containing the inventions in the U.S., according to a complaint filed yesterday in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware.

“The products at issue generally concern microprocessors included in a variety of electronic products such as certain smartphones, tablet computers, portable media players and other computing devices,” Via said in the complaint.

The patent lawsuit is clearly targeting Apple's custom ARM-based A4 and A5 processors used in its recent iOS devices, as the filings name the following devices as being addressed by the complaint: iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPhone 4 CDMA, iPod touch 4th generation, and Apple TV 2nd generation.

VIA had previously been part of a joint venture behind S3 Graphics, which won a U.S. International Trade Commission judgment against Apple several months ago in a separate complaint, but sold the company to HTC just days after that victory.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on iPhone Feature

Here's When iOS 26 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: Out Now!]

Monday September 15, 2025 12:00 am PDT by
Update 10:06 a.m.: iOS 26 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Today's the day! Apple is about to release iOS 26, which will deliver the biggest redesign since iOS 7 and bring a range of new features and improvements to iPhones worldwide. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at last week's iPhone event that...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch These 10 Products in 'Coming Months'

Sunday September 14, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19. As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the...
apple n1 chip

Apple's New N1 Chip in iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air Has a Wi-Fi 7 Limitation

Saturday September 13, 2025 10:01 am PDT by
The latest iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models are equipped with Apple's all-new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. However, the chip has a Wi-Fi 7 bandwidth limitation. According to FCC documents reviewed by MacRumors, the N1 chip in all of the new iPhone models supports up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, short of the...
iphone 17 lineup

iPhone 17 Models Launch on September 19 With These New Features

Friday September 12, 2025 7:58 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 lineup and ultra-thin iPhone Air in stores on Friday, September 19, and the company has already shown off the new devices at its fall event, which ran with the the tagline "Awe dropping." The iPhone 17 series brings a host of new features and enhancements. Here's a rundown of the biggest upgrades and changes: iPhone 17 Display Changes The iPhone...
iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

Apple Says Installing iOS 26 Might Impact Battery Life

Monday September 15, 2025 10:56 am PDT by
In the iOS 26 release notes, Apple is warning iPhone users that installing the new software might have a temporary impact on battery life, which is normal. A new support document explains that major iOS updates require background setup like indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps. Further, Apple says that new features could require more resources,...
iphone air all colors

iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Now Facing Extended Delivery Estimates

Saturday September 13, 2025 11:43 am PDT by
iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air pre-orders began on Friday in the U.S. and many other countries. iPhone 17 Pro Max delivery estimates quickly slipped beyond the Friday, September 19 launch day for those who had yet to place an order, and now the rest of the new models have started to follow suit. As of shortly after 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time today, select iPhone 17, ...
iPhone 17 Pro Air Boxes

iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Boxes Revealed

Sunday September 14, 2025 1:36 pm PDT by
T-Mobile President Jon Freier today shared real-world photos of Apple's boxes for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 models, which launch on Friday. Image Credit: Jon Freier Apple has typically included iPhone box renders in its product environmental reports, but it did not do so for the latest models. However, Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program page does offer some images of the boxes, ...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Didn't Pre-Order a New iPhone Yet? Here's How Long the Wait is Now

Friday September 12, 2025 6:11 am PDT by
iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air pre-orders began at 5 a.m. Pacific Time in the U.S. and many other countries today. If you have yet to place a pre-order, you might face a longer wait now, depending on your desired configuration. As of shortly after 6 a.m. Pacific Time today, nearly all iPhone 17 Pro Max configurations on Apple's online store in the U.S. are facing ...

Top Rated Comments

Dr McKay Avatar
183 months ago
Everyone wants a piece of the Apple pie, now that Apple's changed the game (several times) and the also-rans are struggling in key markets because they just can't capture consumer interest like Apple can.

Except Apple didn't do it by strong-arming.

They didn't do it by anti-competitive activity that landed them a conviction.

They didn't do it by compulsion, duress, or brute force.

They did it by creating great products, by actually giving a damn about what they put their name to, and by following this guy's vision:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaJp66ArJVI

It's that simple. And the surprising (or not so surprising) thing is, is that the also-rans still haven't figured it out, well over a decade later.
Everyone has patents on everyone else, Apple has gone on the offensive, probably forcing a dozen companies hands with preemptive lawsuits incase Apple digs up some antique patent them.

Please tell me this, why is it when Apple is suing, they are the Noble Knight in shining Armour, defending their hard worked ideas and inventions. But when someone sues Apple, its the company:


* Being greedy
* Doing it because they're scared of Apple
* Patent Trolling
* It's must be their only source of income
* They want a piece of "Apples Pie"


And no, I will not accept "But, but Apple revolutionized xxxxx and yyyyy. This makes them above the law"
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyminick Avatar
183 months ago
Funny how just last week the CEO of VIA and his wife, who is the CEO of HTC were shopping at an Apple Store.

Now lawsuit?

LOL:apple:
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
skellener Avatar
183 months ago
I think it's time to change the site name to MacOSLawsuits.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kenypowa Avatar
183 months ago
What comes around goes around. Apple is merely getting a taste of its own medicine.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
183 months ago
I think everyone should simply stop making or selling anything. Then all the patent disputes would dry up.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D4F Avatar
183 months ago
Everyone has patents on everyone else, Apple has gone on the offensive, probably forcing a dozen companies hands with preemptive lawsuits incase Apple digs up some antique patent them.

Please tell me this, why is it when Apple is suing, they are the Noble Knight in shining Armour, defending their hard worked ideas and inventions. But when someone sues Apple, its the company:


* Being greedy
* Doing it because they're scared of Apple
* Patent Trolling
* It's must be their only source of income
* They want a piece of "Apples Pie"


And no, I will not accept "But, but Apple revolutionized xxxxx and yyyyy. This makes them above the law"

LTD is on Apple payroll so what you expect??
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)