Maxell settles suit with Apple over navigation, selected mobile technology patents

Electronics and magnetic storage firm Maxell has called off one of its patent disputes with Apple, as the two companies settled on the eve of a trial in a Texas federal court case. The settlement was reportedly reached at the end of jury selection proceedings.

According to Law360, the settlement concerns Maxell's 2019 claim against Apple over navigation, camera and data technology patents. It does not cover the company's subsequent 2020 suit over passcode unlock, nor the 2021 case concerning FaceTime.

As a result of settling the mobile technology patent dispute, a related Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) case has also been called off. Apple had planned to argue at the PTAB that two of Maxell's patents were invalid.

However, one of these two patents — regarding the controlling of power consumption in mobile devices — had already been excluded from the Texas trial. Maxell originally sought damages for alleged infringement of ten patents, but the court had required it to narrow the case to six.

This case was filed in the Eastern District of Texas. The 2020 suit concerning passcode unlock, and other technologies, continues in the Western District of Texas.

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