Apple Wins Third Jury Trial Against Optis, Avoiding Hundreds of Millions in Patent Damages

Source: MacRumors

Verdict

A jury found that Apple did not infringe any of the five LTE patents owned by Texas‑based Optis Wireless. If Optis had prevailed, Apple could have faced hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

Background

• 2020 trial: Optis initially won a $506 million verdict against Apple. The award was later thrown out on appeal because the jury was not instructed to consider fair, reasonable, and non‑discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms.
• 2021 trial: A second jury recalculated damages and awarded Optis $300 million. Apple appealed again, and the appeals court vacated the verdict, citing incorrect jury instructions from the district court.

Apple’s Response

“We thank the jury for their time, and we’re pleased they rejected Optis’ false claims. Optis makes no products, and its sole business is to sue companies, which it has done repeatedly to Apple in an attempt to obtain an excessive payout.” – Apple spokesperson (as reported by Reuters)

Ongoing Litigation

• U.S. appeals: Optis is expected to appeal the latest ruling, which could send the case back to the appeals court.
• U.K. case: Apple is also contesting a separate judgment in the United Kingdom, where a court ordered Apple to pay $502 million. Apple has appealed, and the U.K. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case in June 2026.

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This article first appeared on MacRumors.com.

Tags: Patent Lawsuits, Patent Trials