Technology giants like Apple don't do research and development, manufacture, or sell themselves, but rather buy up a number of patents and sue companies that may be infringing them to collect license fees. They are often targeted by “patent trolls” who try to One of the lawsuits, which was awarded a huge payment, is reportedly suggesting that Apple may exit the UK market if forced to do so.
The lawsuit is worth $7 billion for Optis Cellular Technology's use of its "standardized" smartphone technology (patents related to 3G and LTE) against Apple. He filed a lawsuit for patent infringement because he refused to pay the license fee. Last month, the UK High Court ruled that Apple had infringed the patent.
Lawsuits based on the same patent have also been filed in the United States (a joint venture of five companies including Optis Wireless Technology, Optis Cellular Technology, Unwired Planet, and Unwired Planet International) in August last year for $506 million (approximately 60 billion). yen) was issued, but the judgment was overturned by the appeals court. MacRumors pointed out that these five companies are patent trolls with no real business.
The problem with Apple this time is that the lawsuit should have considered only UK patent infringement, but the judgment set the amount for iPhones sold worldwide. As a result, they have been ordered to pay more than 10 times more than the judgment in the United States.
Apple's lawyers said they could withdraw from the UK market if the court forced them to pay "commercially unacceptable" royalties for the technology used in the iPhone. As soon as I warned you that there is a sexuality. If Apple were to abandon the UK market, it would theoretically be able to avoid paying.
The judge asked, "There is absolutely no evidence that Apple could really withdraw from the UK market, right?" ...and Apple's position should be able to weigh the terms and decide whether it is commercially right to accept them, or whether it is right to withdraw from the UK market. , Some may not be commercially acceptable."
It is hard to imagine that Apple would withdraw from the UK market, which is by no means small, and stop not only selling iPhones, but even supporting iPhones that have already been sold. However, Apple has long asked EU regulators to deter patent trolls on the grounds that they "infringe on innovation," and if the courts do not come to a compromise, it may be possible.
Source: This is Money
via:9to5Mac
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