UK Court Decides Apple Must Pay $502 Million to Optis

The UK Court of Appeal ruled Apple must make a $502 million payment to resolve a dispute with Optis Cellular Technology over the use of patents without proper licensing. The payment covers a period from 2013 to 2027 and will total more than $700 million, including interest.

Legal action was initiated in 2019 regarding patents governing cellular technology, including 4G, which US-based Optis claimed were improperly used in iPads and iPhones. In the initial case, Apple was ordered to pay $506 million, but a second hearing in 2021 cut the penalty to $300 million, which was contested.

A subsequent court ruling in 2023 decided Apple must pay Optis a total of $56.4 million plus interest to cover past and future sales. Optis argued this sum was too low and challenged the decision, resulting in the judgment by the UK Court of Appeal.

In response to the latest decision, Apple said that Optis makes no products and their sole business is to sue companies using patents they buy. “We will continue to defend against their attempts to extract unreasonable payments,” the company added.