“Apple Inc. (AAPL) won a patent-infringement trial in which Wi-Lan Inc. (WILN) was seeking $248 million from the iPhone maker over an invention for wireless technology used in mobile devices,” Susan Decker and Dennis Robertson report for Bloomberg.
“Apple didn’t infringe a patent for technology used in wireless networking, a federal jury in Marshall, Texas, said yesterday. The jury, which deliberated for just over an hour, also said the two patent claims were invalid,” Decker and Robertson report. “Wi-Lan relies on royalty payments for all of its sales. Justin Kew, an analyst with Cantor Fitzgerald, called the case ‘pivotal’ because an agreement with Cupertino, California-based Apple might eliminate much of the company’s litigation costs that have led to quarterly losses. Wi-Lan reported a loss of $762,000 in the second quarter on revenue of $19.9 million, with litigation expenses accounting for much of its costs.”
Decker and Robertson report, “The Ottawa-based company reached agreements with HTC Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Novatel Wireless Inc. in the days before the trial for undisclosed terms. That left Apple the sole defendant. Apple, which denied infringing the patent, argued it didn’t cover anything new over prior know-how. BlackBerry Ltd. settled its fight with Wi-Lan, as did Alcatel-Lucent.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Begone, pesky troll!
Related articles:
Beleaguered RIM sued by Wi-Lan for patent infringement – January 23, 2012
The patents in question in the Wi-LAN and Openwave lawsuits against Apple – September 2, 2011
Wi-LAN sues Apple, HP, Dell and others claiming patent infringement – September 2, 2011
Standing up for what is right and not buckling under to baseless extortion is what makes Apple a winner (and HTC Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Novatel losers) in the IP war.
So now we see ONE reason for all that money that Apple keeps on hand. Money to fund the “good fight” !!!
Go Apple.
Damned right elder norm!
->That’s why I told you to STFU Carl, you short-sighted blithering idiot of mammon worship.
This is truly a great win for Apple and everyone else who fights patent trolls. It is especially significant because of the court in which the win happened.
Unfortunately, Wi-Lan will likely appeal.
If they don’t, they are letting the patent claim invalidation stand. This opens the door for the settlers (HP, HTC, Novatel, Blackberry, etc) to sue to have their license contracts invalidated. (Wi-Lan can’t enforce a contract for the license of a patent that no longer exists will be the rationale.)
As with most of these patent litigations, I doubt this one is 100% over yet.
They lost $762,000 on Revenue of 19.9 Million with what should be minimal costs other than the legal fees! Those are some high priced layers. By minimal costs I mean they don’t produce anything so the companies costs are just for an office and management payroll.
Patents used to be devices to protect intellectual property. Now it has become a vehicle to provide support for lawyers.
The stocks used to be a vehicle for raising money for business growth. Now it has become a method for the market to fleece investors of their cash.
The parasitic nature of finance and legal system is sucking the country dry.
sucking the country dry
Scouring. Wipe up every last bit of value then head off to Dubai for retirement. USA left an irrelevant skeleton. Not good.
Wi-Lan reported a loss of $762,000 in the second quarter on revenue of $19.9 million, with litigation expenses accounting for much of its costs.
And now you get to pay Apple’s litigation expenses.
And now your patents have been ruled invalid.
And now those who licensed them want their money back.
And now you’re going to regret being patent trolls.
And 😆