A Texas jury ruled Friday that Apple must pay $300 Million in royalties after a retrial of a patent dispute. Reuters reported that the jury found Apple should pay Optis Wireless Technology, a patent company, and related companies for the technology it used in its iPhones and iPads.
Optis was awarded $506 million by a jury last year. However, a judge vacated the award in April and ordered a new trial that would focus on damages. Rodney Gilstrap, US District Judge, stated that the jury was not allowed to examine whether the amount was based on fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms, or FRAND. This is a requirement in standard-essential patent cases.
The Register reported that the five patents in question were once owned by Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Panasonic. However, they were obtained by Optis.
Apple didn't immediately respond to a Sunday request for comment, but it did tell Reuters that it will continue to fight this decision. The statement states that Optis does not make products and its only business is to sue companies for patents they have acquired. We will continue to defend their attempts to demand unreasonable payments for patents that they acquire.
Apple posted record third quarter revenue of $81.4 billion last month.
