Apple Must Pay Over $700 Million in Major Patent Damages Case

Apple has today been ordered to pay more than $700 million to the Texas-based cellular technology company Optis in a landmark UK patent ruling (via ipfray).

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In London, the England and Wales Court of Appeal today ruled that Apple must pay a lump sum of $502 million to Optis Cellular Technology LLC for the use of standard-essential 4G patents in iPhones and iPads over a 14-year period spanning from 2013 to 2027. The decision marks a dramatic increase from the $56.43 million originally awarded by the High Court in 2023. In addition to the revised damages figure, the new judgment also includes interest, which could exceed $200 million, bringing Apple's total liability in the case to more than $700 million.

The dispute centers on whether Apple breached its obligations to license the patents on FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) terms, which are required under international standards for the use of essential wireless technology. Optis is a Texas-based entity that does not manufacture products but holds and licenses intellectual property. It first raised the case in London in 2019.

Apple had previously argued that the royalty rates proposed by Optis were excessive and not compliant with FRAND principles. In a statement provided to Reuters, Apple said "We are disappointed by this decision and plan to appeal."

Optis makes no products and their sole business is to sue companies using patents they buy. We will continue to defend against their attempts to extract unreasonable payments.

The ruling is believed to be one of the largest patent damages awards in UK history. According to legal filings, Apple had previously expressed concern that an unfavorable royalty ruling could constitute grounds for exiting the UK market. While the company later walked back that position, the $700 million judgment moves the case significantly closer to that earlier worst-case scenario than had been anticipated following the High Court's original determination.

Apple can still petition the UK Supreme Court to review the case, but such appeals are usually granted only in limited circumstances, such as significant points of law or matters of public interest.

Update: Optis has issued a statement to MacRumors regarding the ruling:

We're pleased the UK Court of Appeals has recognized and corrected a clearly flawed prior ruling and has made meaningful progress toward affirming the true value of our patents to Apple devices. In addition to ordering payment that exceeds $700 million with interest and fees, the Court has judged that "Apple's significant negotiating strength leads some parties to agree lower rates than would be agreed between a willing licensor/willing licensee" thereby gaining an unfair advantage. We will continue to ensure fair compensation for the Optis intellectual property that enables high-speed connectivity for millions of devices around the world."

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Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
26 weeks ago
I think I found the problem

Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tannerozzy Avatar
26 weeks ago
Why is the UK ruling on a patent dispute between two American companies?
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chet-NYC Avatar
26 weeks ago
Another patent troll gets a payday.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechWhisperer Avatar
26 weeks ago
Apple’s recent trajectory reminds me of a plane losing altitude. Apple is going down in slow motion.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Onelifenofear Avatar
26 weeks ago

Given that it’s a rapidly shrinking market with a bleak future, and the government there is increasingly hostile toward American enterprises and is growing more totalitarian in their demands (such as demanding encryption backdoors)…it might be time to consider it.
Complete and utter gibberish. Deserves a rebuttal.

UK's Annual sales are about $20B. Sales are up YoY for the past 10+ Mac sales are even better.

OS: Around 45-52%. Android: Around 48-55% - Some data shows iOS has a slight lead. This is one manufacturer against >10 others.

Uk is not remoetely totalitarian. Think you need to get off Twitter. We have more rights and Freedoms than the USA. We now have government that actually care more about people than corporations or lining their own pockets. Note: I am politically agnostic. I think most politicians are self serving.

Hostile to American Companies.. or requiring them to actually pay some tax that the previous govemernt let them get away with for 15 years... is that what you mean?

Encryption "backdoor" is not true. Another sensationalised social media example. It is not something that a government could usa a tool to open up anyone's phone.

It was to Allow access to iCloud data for persons under arrest for specific terrorism and Child exploitation. The data was ONLY released under court order per specific person / case. This already exist in the UK and for many other counties. However Advanced Data protection does not work like that and Apple could not ope that data even if they wanted to... it's completely locked. So Apple have now removed that option in the UK. Please note this really is for really bad guys and ONLY UNDER COURT ORDER... there is no way the government could just spy on anyone... that is not how it works. About 0.0001% of any apple accounts use ADP.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0049190 Avatar
26 weeks ago

Given that it’s a rapidly shrinking market with a bleak future, and the government there is increasingly hostile toward American enterprises and is growing more totalitarian in their demands (such as demanding encryption backdoors)…it might be time to consider it.
Load of rubbish. The U.K. has been trying for years to get a free trade agreement with the US. Nobody is targeting Apple but if they keep breaking the law they will keep getting sanctioned. The courts are independent of government in the U.K.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)