Apple ordered to pay $300 million to patent troll

Apple must pay $300 million in royalties after retrial in a patent dispute, a jury in Texas determined on Friday. According to Reuters, the jury ruled that Apple must pay patent company Optis Wireless Technology and related companies because the technology Apple used in its iPhone, iPad and watch allegedly infringed Optis' patents.

Last year, a jury awarded Optis $506 million, but in April a judge reversed that decision and ordered a new trial devoted only to damages. U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap said the first jury was not allowed to consider whether the amount was awarded on the "fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory" (FRAND) terms required in standard patent cases.

The five patents at issue in the case were once owned by LG, Panasonic and Samsung, but were bought out by Optis.

An Apple spokesman said the company is disappointed with the verdict and plans to appeal. "Optis does not make any products, and its only business is filing lawsuits against companies that use the patents they accumulate," the spokesman wrote. "We will continue to defend ourselves against their attempts to obtain unreasonable payments for the patents they have acquired."

Source: reuters

Illustration: reuters