Boston University Sues Apple Over Gallium Nitride Thin Film Patent

Wednesday July 3, 2013 9:48 am PDT by Jordan Golson

Apple has been sued by Boston University over a patent for gallium nitride films that the University alleges is used in the iPhone 5, iPad and MacBook Air, amongst other products. The Boston Herald first reported on the lawsuit.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, is for a patent awarded to a BU professor for which the university owns the rights.

U.S. Patent 5,686,738, titled "Highly Insulating Monocrystalline Gallium Nitride Thin Film" is related to a particular manufacturing process for LEDs and other semiconductor devices.

The lawsuit does not specify what inside Apple's products is alleged to be infringing, just noting Apple products in general. Boston University has sued a number of other companies over the same patent in recent months, including Samsung [PDF].

The initial filing is embedded below.

Top Rated Comments

drewyboy

105 months ago

Maybe I'm an idiot, but last time I checked apple doesn't manufacture the screens, they only buy them... Sooooo, why isn't this lawsuit contained to LCD manufactures?

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

jonnysods

105 months ago

Apple's civil lawsuit department will need it's own spaceship campus soon!

Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)

techwhiz

105 months ago

Apple doesn't make LEDs. They should be suing the manufacturer of the parts. Apple is the aparent deep pockets.

Bogus at best.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Plutonius

105 months ago

A great way of getting your name or your organization name in the news :D.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

sza

105 months ago

He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find his stick.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

iMatt7

105 months ago

If Boston University gets some money out of this will it be dumped back into the school to lower tuition for students or into school buildings / programs? I know at other schools, it would most likely be stuffed into the pockets of the president, administrative faculty, board members, etc.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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Boston University Sues Apple Over Gallium Nitride Thin Film Patent

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