The US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Apple and Broadcom in the ongoing patent infringement case brought against them by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The case involves data-transmission patents, and Caltech had initially won a jury verdict of $1.1 billion against the companies. However, this verdict was later overturned. Apple and Broadcom sought to challenge the validity of the patents during the trial, but the lower courts ruled against them because they had not raised the issue earlier in the proceedings at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The Federal Circuit, specialized in patent cases, rejected the companies’ arguments, leading to the denial of their appeal. Apple and Broadcom argued that they should have had the opportunity to raise the patent challenges during the trial. The jury had found them guilty of infringing Caltech’s patents and ordered Apple to pay $837.8 million and Broadcom to pay $270.2 million. However, the Federal Circuit disagreed with the amount awarded and sent the case back for a new trial on damages.
Caltech had filed the lawsuit against Apple and Broadcom in 2016, claiming that their devices using Broadcom Wi-Fi chips had infringed its data-transmission patents. Apple is a significant customer of Broadcom, and the companies had entered into a supply agreement lasting until 2023. Approximately 20% of Broadcom’s revenue is estimated to come from Apple.
The Federal Circuit also upheld the trial judge’s decision to prevent the companies from arguing that the patents were invalid because they could have raised this issue during the US Patent and Trademark Office review process.
Despite Apple and Broadcom appealing to the Supreme Court, the court rejected their plea. President Joe Biden’s administration supported the Federal Circuit’s interpretation of the law and urged the Supreme Court to reject the case.
It is worth noting that Caltech has filed similar patent infringement lawsuits against Microsoft, Samsung Electronics, Dell Technologies, and HP, which are still pending.
In conclusion, the US Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Apple and Broadcom’s appeal leaves the case unresolved. The companies were unable to challenge the validity of the patents during the trial, leading to the initial jury verdict being overturned. Both parties will now have to await a new trial on damages.
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Alex Smith is a writer and editor with over 10 years of experience. He has written extensively on a variety of topics, including technology, business, and personal finance. His work has been published in a number of magazines and newspapers, and he is also the author of two books. Alex is passionate about helping people learn and grow, and he believes that writing is a powerful tool for communication and understanding.
