Apple ordered to pay $502 million in UK patent case

A London appeals court has ruled that Apple must pay Optis Cellular Technology LLC a lump sum of $502 million for using 4G patents in devices such as the iPhone and iPad, the latest in a years-long legal battle, Reuters reports.

Optis, a Texas-based company, filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2019, claiming that Apple was using its patents needed to make 4G technology work. The High Court in London had previously ruled that Apple should pay about $56 million plus interest, but Optis considered that amount too small and appealed the decision.

Now the court has ruled that the company must pay a much larger amount — $502 million (excluding interest), which covers the use of patents from 2013 to 2027. This payment concerns a global license for Optis technology.

In response, Apple expressed disappointment with the decision and its intention to appeal it. A company representative noted that Optis is not engaged in manufacturing, but only buys up patents in order to file lawsuits against companies that use them.

The decision is another stage in the dispute over FRAND terms — fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory patent licenses.