Patent infringement disputes are a constant in the world of technology. Apple has been successful in many lawsuits, but it has also lost. In the most recent case, Apple has been sentenced by the court to pay $ 300 million in royalties.
Sentence was determined this week by a Texas jury. As reported by Reuters, the jury concluded that Apple should pay patent firm Optis Wireless Technology and its related companies because the technology that Apple used in its iPhones, iPads and Watches allegedly infringes on Optis’ patents.
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Regarding the sentence, an Apple spokesman declared to The Verge that the company was disappointed by the verdict and plan to appeal against the decision. “Optis does not manufacture products and its only business is to sue companies using the patents they accumulate”the spokesperson wrote. “We will continue to defend ourselves against their attempts to obtain unreasonable payments for the patents they acquire.”
Although the sum of $ 300 million will hardly leave a mark on Apple’s finances. Well, the company made $ 81.4 billion in net income in its last quarter alone – Optis’ pay will represent a little more than a day’s earnings. The concern, of course, is that Optis will succeed in receiving regular payments that could drive up Apple’s costs and drive hardware prices higher.
In 2020, a jury awarded Optis $ 506 million in the dispute, but a judge overturned that sentence in April. and ordered a new trial focused solely on damages. US District Judge Rodney Gilstrap said the first jury had not been allowed to consider whether the amount was awarded on the “fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory” terms required in standard essential patent cases.