Apple Ordered to Pay PanOptis $506 Million for Violating LTE Patents

[MacRumors]

Apple needs to pay PanOptis $506 million for willfully infringing on a handful of patents related to 4G LTE technology, a Texas federal jury ruled today (via Law360).

The jury said that Apple did not prove that PanOptis' patent claims were invalid, resulting in the order to pay $506 million in royalties. PanOptis first levied a lawsuit against Apple in February 2019 on behalf of five of its wireless companies, accusing Apple of violating seven patents related to LTE standards.

According to PanOptis, all LTE-enabled Apple products, including the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, infringe on its LTE patents. PanOptis had requested damages "in the form of reasonable royalties" when demanding a jury trial last year.

PanOptis and its sister companies, Optis Wireless Technology, Optis Cellular Technology, Unwired Planet, and Unwired Planet International, are non-practicing entities that hold patents and generate revenue through patent litigation, otherwise known as patent trolls.

Just prior to when the lawsuit was originally filed, Apple began the process of closing all of its stores in the Eastern District of Texas, presumably in an effort to avoid patent infringement lawsuits in the jurisdiction, which is a favorite of patent trolls. PanOptis' lawsuit and jury trial took place in the Eastern District of Texas.

Apple will undoubtedly appeal today's decision.

Article Link: Apple Ordered to Pay PanOptis $506 Million for Violating LTE Patents

 

[newyorksole]

Half a billi. I know they have the funds, but jeez.

 

[Brandon916]

Apple trying to get away from paying royalties again ha?

 

[NMBob]

Do they have bad patent lawyers or what?

 

[bassrocker204]

The people in these juries must be some grade a morons to award millions and billions to patent trolls, time and time again.

 

[mdridwan47]

It's pocket change for Apple but it's a lot of moolah for anybody else. Huge payday for PanOptis!

 

[Apple Macintosh 128K]

Patent trolls are the worst.

 

[Brandon916]

The people in these juries must be some grade a morons to award millions and billions to patent trolls, time and time again.

How so? They requested for reasonable royalties. Apple sells millions and millions of these devices. Apple tried to get away from paying for facetime feature as well which is patented. Sorry, but Apple didn't create facetime, they just stole the tech.

 

[Jerry Fritschle]

Well, regardless of appeals, I’ve now heard of PanOptis

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Pay up Apple!!!

 

[itsmeaustend]

I don't understand how a company can own patents for a standard that's used worldwide by countless businesses, especially 7 of them...

 

[napabar]

How so? They requested for reasonable royalties. Apple sells millions and millions of these devices. Apple tried to get away from paying for facetime feature as well which is patented. Sorry, but Apple didn't create facetime, they just stole the tech.

Wrong and wrong. You're 0-2 today.

 

[jav6454]

Do they have bad patent lawyers or what?

Eastern Texas is known to be favorable to patent trolls. Hence why several lawsuits are filed there vs where the company is based. The few lawsuits filed in NorCal are completely with merit as business that actually use these patents are being affected.

 

[napabar]

This East Texas court system is notorious for awarding large payouts to patent trolls. That's why everyone files there. Why there hasn't been a federal investigation (in either Democrat or Republican administrations) into what it statistically impossible is a mystery to me. Something is rotten in East Texas.

 

[Bornee35]

I don't understand how a company can own patents for a standard that's used worldwide by countless businesses, especially 7 of them...

Because these technology patents are so intentionally vague in description, with the right argument you can blanket it across everything. It’s why you have technology “companies” who produce nothing yet accumulate these patents.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It has been a tough week for Apple in many ways.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Eastern Texas is known to be favorable to patent trolls. Hence why several lawsuits are filed there vs where the company is based. The few lawsuits filed in NorCal are completely with merit as business that actually use these patents are being affected.

This East Texas court system is notorious for awarding large payouts to patent trolls. That's why everyone files there. Why there hasn't been a federal investigation (in either Democrat or Republican administrations) into what it statistically impossible is a mystery to me. Something is rotten in East Texas.

Nobody with a brain files in EDTX anymore. WDTX is where it's at now - Judge Albright loves patents and moves cases faster than the PTAB can kill patents. And in any case, as of TC Heartland you can't just file anywhere you want anymore.

That aside, the statistics actually don't show that EDTX favors plaintiffs in final outcomes. The judges there are just slightly less likely to dismiss cases prior to trial, but final outcomes are in line with the rest of the country.

 

[sub150]

The patent system is so broke today. Take, for instance, zooming. You have a touch screen device. If you have it to a toddler, they would probably try to pinch to zoom. However, that is patented. What if I double click, patented. what if a press and drag up, patented. Press and drag down, patented.

It results in companies needed to to asinine things to achieve plan R because plan A-Q, the obvious ones, are patented.

 

[oneMadRssn]

The patent system is so broke today. Take, for instance, zooming. You have a touch screen device. If you have it to a toddler, they would probably try to pinch to zoom. However, that is patented. What if I double click, patented. what if a press and drag up, patented. Press and drag down, patented.

It results in companies needed to to asinine things to achieve plan R because plan A-Q, the obvious ones, are patented.

None of the things you listed are patented.

 

[JosephAW]

In other news Apple increases the price of the LTE Watch $1.

 

[ericg301]

does this mean that my Plano and Frisco Apple Stores can open up again?

 

[Brandon916]

Wrong and wrong. You're 0-2 today.

enjoy

Apple loses appeal in FaceTime lawsuit, must pay VirnetX $440 million

Interest and other costs are mounting but Apple is still unwilling to capitulate.

www.zdnet.com

 

[tridley68]

When will Apple learn there are conciquences for their actions

 

[SoN1NjA]

Apple trying to get away from paying royalties again ha?

You know it! That’s how bullies and MONOPOLIES work!!!

 

[cmaier]

How so? They requested for reasonable royalties. Apple sells millions and millions of these devices. Apple tried to get away from paying for facetime feature as well which is patented. Sorry, but Apple didn't create facetime, they just stole the tech.

They didn’t “steal” anything, nor were they accused of “stealing” anything. You are infringing hundreds of patents yourself every day - patent infringement doesn’t require that you know that the patent even exists. That doesn’t make you a thief.