Apple secured a defense victory on Thursday in a closely watched patent case over 4G wireless technology, marking the third trial in a years-long legal battle with intellectual-property firm Optis Wireless. The outcome was first reported by Reuters.
A federal jury in Marshall, Texas sided with Apple, rejecting claims that the company infringed patents tied to the 4G LTE wireless standard. The verdict represents a major turnaround after two earlier juries had awarded Optis hundreds of millions of dollars.
Optis previously won verdicts of $506 million in 2020 and $300 million in a later retrial. However, appellate courts overturned both awards.
In a statement cited by Reuters, an Apple spokesperson thanked the jury and said the company was pleased that Optis’ claims had been rejected. Apple has consistently argued that the patents are invalid and denied any infringement. The company also maintained that Optis does not manufacture products and instead relies on litigation as its business model.
Optis did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the latest verdict.
A case that kept returning to court
Plano, Texas-based Optis and related entities filed suit in 2019, alleging that Apple’s iPhones and other devices violated patents essential to the 4G LTE standard. The dispute centers on licensing obligations for so-called standard-essential patents, which patent holders must license on fair and reasonable terms.
In 2020, a jury initially ordered Apple to pay $506 million in damages. But U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap later granted a new trial focused on damages, concluding that the award might not align with licensing obligations tied to fair and reasonable terms.
A second jury then awarded Optis $300 million. Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned that ruling. The appellate court found that the trial judge had improperly structured the verdict form by combining multiple patents into a single infringement question.
The latest trial once again reset the stakes. This time, Apple prevailed outright.
The legal fight is not limited to the United States. In a separate proceeding, a U.K. court ruled last year that Apple owes Optis $502 million for infringing U.K. wireless patents. Apple has appealed that decision, and the U.K. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case in June.
While the Texas verdict delivers a significant win for Apple, the broader global dispute over 4G licensing remains unresolved.
