Apple ordered to pay $5.7bn over patent infringement
A California jury found Apple infringed two patents owned by Taction and ordered the tech giant to pay $5.7bn in damages, though it ruled the infringement was not wilful. Apple says it plans to appeal.
A jury in California has ruled that Apple infringed on two patents owned by the company Taction, ordering Apple to pay $5.7bn in damages as a result of the verdict.
The jury determined that the infringement was not wilful, meaning it did not find that Apple knowingly or deliberately violated Taction's intellectual property rights. This distinction can matter significantly in patent litigation, since a finding of wilful infringement can lead to enhanced damages awards.
Apple to appeal
Apple has stated that it intends to appeal the verdict, suggesting the case will likely proceed through higher courts before reaching a final resolution on the damages owed.
The $5.7bn figure is among the largest patent infringement awards handed down against a major technology company in recent years. It highlights the scale of financial exposure large corporations can face in patent disputes, even when jurors do not conclude the infringement was intentional. Apple, one of the world's most valuable companies, could see its financial position affected depending on how the appeal unfolds.
