Broadcom & Apple ordered to pay $1.1Bn for patent infringement

After a years-long battle, Apple and Broadcom have been reportedly ordered to pay combined USD 1.1 billion in a patent infringement case to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Credible reports cite that Apple was ordered to pay $837.8 million while Broadcom needs to pay a $270.2 million.

Reportedly, CalTech’s lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles federal court in 2016 which alleged that number of devices from Apple with Broadcom Wi-Fi chips were infringed on their patents. Broadcom delivers wireless chips for several Apple products including the iPhone.

CalTech said in a statement that they are pleased about the jury’s verdict about violating its patents. As a non-profit university for higher education, it is committed to protecting its intellectual property to expand human knowledge and help society through research-based education.

According to sources, this was the sixth biggest patent-related verdict ever and both Apple and Broadcom are planning to appeal the ruling. In a joint statement, the two firms said that Caltech's claims are solely based on the use of allegedly infringing chips made by Broadcom into Apple's Mac, iPhone and other devices.

Meanwhile, Broadcom said that the company disagrees with legal and factual bases for the verdict and intends to appeal the ruling. Sources cite that Broadcom was the main target of this lawsuit, but Apple was also named as one of the biggest Broadcom's consumers. 

Apple has been involved in legal proceedings over the past few years. Recently, the company settled a long-standing legal dispute with Qualcomm about the royalty payments.

As a part of the settlement, Apple paid an undisclosed amount to Qualcomm. Moreover, the two companies inked a six-year licensing agreement with (an option to extend it up to two years), and a “multiyear” chipset delivery agreement.

Source Credit - https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/30/caltech-scores-massive-1-1b-verdict-against-apple-and-broadcom-in-patent-case/