Apple wins $300 million patent case appeal

Apple recently scored a big win in a long-running legal battle with Optis, a Texas-based company, over patents related to LTE technology used in iPhones and other devices. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a $300 million penalty that Apple was previously ordered to pay, according to Reuters. This marks the second time a major verdict against Apple in this case has been thrown out.

The dispute began in 2019 when Optis sued Apple, claiming the tech giant violated its LTE patents. In 2020, a Texas jury awarded Optis $506 million, but the amount was reduced to $300 million in a 2021 retrial after a judge ruled the initial sum didn’t align with fair licensing terms. Apple appealed, arguing the trial court didn’t properly separate the patent claims, leading to unclear jury instructions.

The appeals court agreed, stating this violated Apple’s right to a fair trial. Now, the case heads back to a Texas court for a new trial to reassess both infringement and damages. Meanwhile, Optis also won a $502 million ruling against Apple in the UK in May 2025 for similar patent issues, which Apple is appealing. As a company that buys patents to sue others without making products, Optis remains confident in securing fair compensation. Apple, however, continues to fight what it calls excessive demands.