Apple has been accused of infringing on a European patent covering gaze correction, the feature used to correct a user's eye line in FaceTime calls.
Apple is frequently the subject of patent infringement lawsuits, often over major technology features such as its continued battle with Masimo over the Apple Watch. However, sometimes it is caught out by attempts to sue over its smallest features.
In a lawsuit that started via a complaint with the Unified Patent Court on December 5, EyesMatch accuses Apple of infringing patent EP2,936,439, reports IP Fray. At the same time, EyesMatch is also taking on Nvidia over the same patent.
The patent deals with a "Method of capturing and displaying appearances," covering how an image from a camera is managed for the user. While this can be used to create mirror-style displays with make-up effects, for example, it also discusses a way to affect the appearance of a user's eyes.
The intention is that, by adjusting the eyes viewed by the camera, it can look like the user is looking straight ahead, instead of slightly downward as viewed from the camera itself. The idea is that, in video calls, the participants can see the other person looking straight at them, increasing eye contact.
When it comes to the lawsuit itself, it's the eye adjustment element claims that EyesMatch is using against Apple.
Apple introduced a feature to FaceTime in iOS 14 called Eye Contact, which practically does the same thing. Using Apple AR, it adjusts the eyes so that the user appears to be looking at the screen, rather than the true viewpoint from the camera at the edge of the display.
The report adds that there is a chance that the patent could also be applied against the Apple Vision Pro, which relies on eye tracking technology. However, it seems that FaceTime is a much closer match to the patent for litigation purposes.
Who is EyesMatch
EyesMatch Ltd is described as a patent-holding company, which is also referred to as a non-practicing entity or characterized as a "Patent Troll." It has a number of patent holdings, including the gaze correction filing and listings involving virtual and digital mirrors.
This also covers things like digital makeup mirrors, augmented reality elements, object extraction techniques, and other real-time image processing features.
The main inventors on patents assigned to EyesMatch Ltd are identified as Nissi Vilcovsky and Ofer Saban, who are also the founders of the company, as well as the connected MemoMi Lab Inc.
The portfolio in general covers inventions from the late 2000's to the early 2010's. In the case of the contested patent, it was applied for in December 2013 and was granted in February 2020. The patent is expected to expire in December 2033.
Settlements
The patent in question has been brought in front of the UPC before, including against Samsung in May 2025 and Microsoft in June 2025. In both instances, Microsoft and Samsung settled with EyesMatch.
In both cases, EyesMatch secured worldwide patent license agreements with the companies. For Samsung, it was after an injunction in Brazil, while Microsoft's was based on the European lawsuits.
Google is also in a lawsuit with the company over the patent. That has yet to reach a conclusion.
It's entirely possible that Apple could follow the same path and settle, but it may still choose to fight on.
The patent is registered across ten European countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and Italy. The report proposes that the threat of a potential injunction in France, Germany, and Italy could be sufficient to compel Apple to settle, instead of pursuing a full trial.
There is another driver for Apple to settle: that it could be a relatively cheap payout for the company.
The Microsoft settlement report mentions the amount in dispute was listed in the court order at 2 million euro ($2.3 million), but Microsoft probably paid more over the worldwide licensing agreement. At that price range, Apple could find it easier to save time and energy and pay up, instead of risking a higher penalty through a trial.
