Apple loses London appeal in 4G patent dispute with Optis

Apple Inc infringed two telecommunications patents utilized in units together with iPhones and iPads, London’s Court of Appeal dominated on Tuesday, dismissing the tech big’s enchantment in a long-running dispute with a U.S. patent holder.

Texas-based Optis Cellular Technology LLC sued Apple in 2019 over its use of patents which Optis says are important to sure technological requirements, reminiscent of 4G.

London’s High Court dominated final yr that two of Optis’ 4G patents have been so-called customary important patents and that Apple had infringed them.

Apple appealed in opposition to that call in May, arguing that the 2 patents in situation weren’t important to 4G requirements and that it had not infringed the patents.

But its problem was rejected by the Court of Appeal, with Judge Colin Birss saying in a written ruling that the High Court was “right to reject (Apple’s) argument for non-infringement” and on the difficulty of the patents being important.

Apple and Optis didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Tuesday’s ruling is the newest resolution within the authorized battle between Apple and Optis, which started in 2019 and has prompted six separate trials and a number of other appellate hearings in Britain alone. The Court of Appeal final month upheld an enchantment by Optis in opposition to an earlier resolution to revoke two different 4G-related patents, following a ruling in October that Optis is entitled to an injunction to cease Apple infringing its patents earlier than a court docket has dominated on the honest, affordable and non-discriminatory phrases of use.

Apple was granted permission earlier this yr to enchantment in opposition to the October ruling.

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