Apple Still on the Hook for $838 Million in Caltech Patent Infringement Case

Apple has failed to invalidate one of the patents at the heart of a $1.1 billion USD lawsuit in which both Apple and Broadcom must pay damages to Caltech for patent infringement.

According to a new report from MacRumors, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday dismissed Apple’s plea to ignore and invalidate the patent on the grounds of its “obviousness.” As a result, Apple and Broadcom’s bill will remain the same; at least, for now.

In January, Caltech won a $1.1 billion USD damages award against Apple and Broadcom, who were deemed by a California jury to have infringed the patents. The patents at issue cover data transmission technology, which Caltech said was infringed by Broadcom Wi-Fi chips used in Apple devices.



Apple and Broadcom denied any wrongdoing, but a Californian court did not agree and has ordered Apple to pay $837.8 million USD, while Broadcom has a bill of $270.2 million. The iPhone maker claimed in court that the firm should not be involved in the lawsuit whatsoever as an “indirect downstream party.”

“As a non-profit institution of higher education, Caltech is committed to protecting its IP in furtherance of its mission to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education,” Caltech said in a statement following the jury verdict.