Apple ordered to pay PanOptis $506.2M for infringing LTE patents

A Texas federal jury on Tuesday ruled that Apple must pay $506.2 million for willfully infringing on a handful of 4G LTE patents owned by PanOptis and related companies.

The complaint, first lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in 2019, accused Apple of infringing on seven patents covering various 4G LTE abilities. The lawsuit named iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch as infringing devices.

In Tuesday's decision, the jury decided that Apple failed to prove that any of PanOptis' patent claims were invalid. According to Law360, it also said that Apple willfully infringed on the patents. Notably, the in-person patent jury trial was the country's first since coronavirus lockdowns began.

The $506 million is a royalty of past sales of infringing devices, with the jury finding five of the seven patents in suit were violated.

PanOptis and its related companies, including Optis Wireless Technology and Unwired Planet, are non-practicing entities. In their complaint, the companies argued that they had offered Apple a license for using the LTE-related patents, but added that negotiations fell through.

"Lawsuits like this by companies who accumulate patents simply to harass the industry only serve to stifle innovation and harm consumers," Apple said in a statement to Bloomberg. Apple pledged to appeal the decision.

20 Comments

wizard69 13358 comments · 21 Years

About 4 years ago

Apple gets caught again stealing somebody else IP and then cries about it. Sorry but PanOptis owns those patents for the same reason Apple owns patents, that is to make money. Frankly this is just another example of why I'm really beginning to believe that Apple needs to go to hell for awhile. I like a lot of stuff Apple makes but they are digging a big whole due to their lack of ethics. Frankly they should have left China years ago once it was realized that China has practices as hideous as the Nazi's. I've lost a lot of faith in Apple of late.

Beats 3073 comments · 4 Years

About 4 years ago

wizard69 said:

Apple gets caught again stealing somebody else IP and then cries about it. Sorry but PanOptis owns those patents for the same reason Apple owns patents, that is to make money. Frankly this is just another example of why I'm really beginning to believe that Apple needs to go to hell for awhile. I like a lot of stuff Apple makes but they are digging a big whole due to their lack of ethics. Frankly they should have left China years ago once it was realized that China has practices as hideous as the Nazi's. I've lost a lot of faith in Apple of late.

Apple is rich. Everyone wants to sue them for any reason. Most patents are broad spectrum vague ideas. Basically landmines for big tech.

"Frankly they should have left China years ago"

Oh, this is what it's about.

trustnoone00 29 comments · 20 Years

About 4 years ago

Kuyangkoh said:

Hmmm..... these LTE modems are made And supplied by Intel or Qualcom??

This right here is why I’m a bit confused. Apple licenses the technology from these two companies and then is found guilty of infringement on technology that isn’t theirs.

I would be very grateful if someone would be able to explain this one. Is it because of How Apple has implemented it into their devices?

tjwolf 423 comments · 12 Years

About 4 years ago

wizard69 said:

Apple gets caught again stealing somebody else IP and then cries about it. Sorry but PanOptis owns those patents for the same reason Apple owns patents, that is to make money. Frankly this is just another example of why I'm really beginning to believe that Apple needs to go to hell for awhile. I like a lot of stuff Apple makes but they are digging a big whole due to their lack of ethics. Frankly they should have left China years ago once it was realized that China has practices as hideous as the Nazi's. I've lost a lot of faith in Apple of late.

And you know these patents well enough to know that they are valid? Probably not. And judging by the number of jury judgements coming out of East Texas which later get overturned, neither do the juries there. Yes, Apple has been found guilty on appeal sometimes, so they're not always innocent, but your blanket statement is pretty off-base too.

Your comment about Apple leaving China: put your wallet where your mouth is - boycott every manufacturer that does business in China. They'll find you naked and starved to death in your apartment :-) Apple goes way beyond what other companies do in at least requiring better work conditions for its workers.