The war of owning patents in not taking a rest and now we are getting a news from United States. Apple INC could be facing up to $862 million damages. Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) filed a law suit against Apple last year related to chip efficiency which WARF claims, they own from 1998.
As reported by Reuter “the jury was considering whether Apple’s A7, A8 and A8X processors, found in the iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus, as well as several versions of the iPad, violate the patent. According to a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge William Conley, who is presiding over the case, Apple could be liable for up to $862.4 million in damages. He scheduled the trial to proceed in three phases: liability, damages, and finally, whether Apple infringed the patent willfully, which could lead to enhanced penalties.”
Cupertino, California-based Apple has denied any infringement and argued the patent is invalid, according to court papers. Apple previously tried to convince the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to review the patent’s validity, but in April the agency rejected the bid.
WARF has had a history for suing Tech Companies in the past. Earlier WARF used the patent to sue Intel Corp in 2008, but the case was settled the following year on the eve of trial. Last month, WARF launched a second lawsuit against Apple, this time targeting the company’s newest chips, the A9 and A9X, used in the just-released iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, as well as the iPad Pro.
Source: Reuter