Key Points:
- Apple won a major defense verdict in a Texas federal court.
- Optis previously won verdicts of $506 million and $300 million.
- The lawsuit centered on patents related to 4G LTE technology.
- A separate $502 million legal battle continues in the United Kingdom.
Apple scored a significant legal victory on Thursday when a federal jury in Texas cleared the company of patent infringement charges. The lawsuit, brought by intellectual property management firm Optis Wireless, accused the tech giant of using 4G wireless technology without permission. This verdict marks a major turnaround in a legal fight that has dragged on for years.
In previous trials held in Marshall, Texas, Optis had the upper hand. Juries had ordered Apple to pay massive sums, including one verdict for $506 million and another for $300 million. However, appeals courts later overturned both of those decisions due to legal errors, setting the stage for this week’s win for the iPhone maker.
Apple welcomed the decision with harsh words for its opponent. A spokesperson thanked the jury for rejecting “false claims” and pointed out that Optis does not manufacture any products. Apple argues that Optis is a company that exists only to sue others in hopes of extracting “excessive payouts.” Optis did not immediately comment on the loss.
The dispute began in 2019 when Optis claimed that Apple’s iPhones and iPads violated their patent rights regarding 4G LTE standards. Apple consistently denied these allegations, arguing that the patents were invalid. The legal process has been complicated. A judge threw out the 2020 verdict because it didn’t follow fair licensing rules. Later, an appeals court tossed the 2021 verdict because the jury form was confusing and grouped multiple patents into a single question.
While Apple secured a win in the United States, the war isn’t entirely over. The two companies are also fighting in the United Kingdom. Last year, a British court ruled that Apple owes Optis $502 million for infringing on UK-specific wireless patents. The U.K. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Apple’s appeal regarding that ruling in June.
