First U.S. Jury Trial Begins Today in Apple-Qualcomm Legal Battle

[MacRumors]

In July 2017, Qualcomm filed suit against Apple in San Diego federal court, accusing the iPhone maker of infringing on six U.S. patents related to graphics processing architecture, power consumption, and envelope tracking technologies. Nearly two years later, the case is finally headed to trial.

The trial begins today with jury selection, with proceedings expected to take up to two weeks. It will be the first time a U.S. jury is involved in the major legal battle between the two companies, according to Bloomberg.

The legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm spans multiple countries. The dispute began in January 2017 when Apple sued Qualcomm for an alleged $1 billion in unpaid royalty rebates, just days after an FTC complaint alleged that Qualcomm engaged in anticompetitive patent licensing practices.

Qualcomm has countersued, alleging that its "innovations are at the heart of every iPhone" and "enable the most important uses and features of those devices," adding that it "simply is untrue that Qualcomm is seeking to collect royalties for Apple innovations that have nothing to do with Qualcomm's technology."

Last week, analysts at investment bank Barclays said that Qualcomm is seemingly "running out" of time to reach a settlement with Apple if it wants to win 5G modems orders for the first 5G-enabled iPhones, expected in 2020.

Article Link: First U.S. Jury Trial Begins Today in Apple-Qualcomm Legal Battle

 

[abrantes09]

Is it just me, or is this pointless.

 

[0947347]

Is it just me, or is this pointless.

Pointless time and money wasting. With all that what will go to it, they could build a few hospitals instead and actually being useful.

 

[2010mini]

Wonder how much the lawyers are billing for this?

 

[Jimpilot]

Wonder how much the lawyers are billing for this?

You know the answer to that. Tons of $$

 

[MacknTosh]

What’s the chance that they will actually get a jury that is capable of following what I’m sure will be detailed explanations using technical terms of various patents. I’d hate to be involved!

 

[cmaier]

You know the answer to that. Tons of $$

Ranges from $400-$1000’ish per hour, depending on years of experience (each attorney billing separately, and lots of attorneys on each team)
[doublepost=1551709815][/doublepost]

What’s the chance that they will actually get a jury that is capable of following what I’m sure will be detailed explanations using technical terms of various patents. I’d hate to be involved!

You’d be surprised. Juries are actually pretty good about understanding this stuff, particularly because the attorneys work hard to boil it down to the key disputed issues.

 

[69Mustang]

What’s the chance that they will actually get a jury that is capable of following what I’m sure will be detailed explanations using technical terms of various patents. I’d hate to be involved!

They don't need juries who understand the technical details of the case. They need attorneys who have the ability to articulate technicalities in layman's terms. The legal team that does that the best is the legal team that has an advantage.

 

[Wowereit]

Wonder how much the lawyers are billing for this?

The highest billable hour I've ever heard of is 1200$, so I'd guess a team of 600-1200$ lawyers + some 150$ associates are working a large case like this.

 

[GreenPixel]

These companies could have both saved so much money if they had just been able to compromise.

 

[QCassidy352]

Ranges from $400-$1000’ish per hour, depending on years of experience (each attorney billing separately, and lots of attorneys on each team

Goes well above $1000/hr for the attorneys who actually argue the cases to the jury.

 

[cmaier]

Goes well above $1000/hr for the attorneys who actually argue the cases to the jury.

Yep. Though they typically spend the least amount of time actually working on any particular case.
[doublepost=1551711165][/doublepost]

These companies could have both saved so much money if they had just been able to compromise.

Each of them, acting in their own self-interest, appear to disagree with you. They believe that the available compromises are less desirable than the results of continuing to fight, taking into account their own evaluations of the potential likely outcomes and the likelihood of each such outcome.

 

[Khedron]

These companies could have both saved so much money if they had just been able to compromise.

Tim doesn't pay his bills or taxes until he has a court judgement demanding he does

 

[Marcus PM]

Round and around and around and around they go.

 

[nt5672]

What’s the chance that they will actually get a jury that is capable of following what I’m sure will be detailed explanations using technical terms of various patents. I’d hate to be involved!

The good news is that I'll bet there are more jurors using Apple phones than Qualcomm phones , and I'll bet that the perception of Apple is more positive than Qualcomm. If that is not the case then Apple's marketing money is not being very well spent. I think going to a jury is bad for Qualcomm.

 

[12vElectronics]

Wait, Qualcomm is suing Apple yet wants a purchase order from them in future iPhones? Lol

 

[ksec]

This is different to the previous FTC case, and there will be another case about licensing in April if I remember correctly.

 

[macfacts]

Is it just me, or is this pointless.

Why is this pointless?

 

[HJM.NL]

Last week, analysts at investment bank Barclays said that Qualcomm is seemingly "running out" of time to reach a settlement with Apple if it wants to win 5G modems orders for the first 5G-enabled iPhones, expected in 2020.

It’s a bigger loss for Apple and it’s customers than it will probably be for Qualcomm I’m afraid

 

[calzon65]

A jury trial … what a joke ... this will be so far over their heads.

 

[cmaier]

A jury trial … what a joke ... this will be so far over their heads.

No it won’t.

 

[calzon65]

No it won’t.

You obviously have no experience with a jury … unless you were the foreman on the OJ trial.

 

[MoreRumors?]

Hopefully, this case will be done this year and not drag on so all parties can move forward. As a consumer, I would like to know what modems will be used for future iPhones starting in 2021. If Qualcomm still offers the best modem, then I hope they and Apple can settle this and move forward.

It’s a bigger loss for Apple and it’s customers than it will probably be for Qualcomm I’m afraid

The loser would be the customers and not so much for Apple as people will still buy regardless of what modems they put in. With that said, I still believe carriers need to improve their coverage and better signal. What good is a modem if the signal is weak and you can't take advantage with the best modem available. I have used speedtest at various locations and get different speeds.

They don't need juries who understand the technical details of the case. They need attorneys who have the ability to articulate technicalities in layman's terms. The legal team that does that the best is the legal team that has an advantage.

I totally agree with you. Jurors are random and not only specific to those who have technical knowledge otherwise it will take years before they come across who do.

 

[cmaier]

You obviously have no experience with a jury … unless you were the foreman on the OJ trial.

Google me.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

The good news is that I'll bet there are more jurors using Apple phones than Qualcomm phones , and I'll bet that the perception of Apple is more positive than Qualcomm. If that is not the case then Apple's marketing money is not being very well spent. I think going to a jury is bad for Qualcomm.

Nice insight in your legal understanding