Lawsuit

Apple sues Qualcomm over withholding $1B as ransom in Korean legal investigation

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 21, 2017

Apple on Friday announced it's suing iPhone modem supplier Qualcomm, which owns many wireless patents, “after years of disagreement over what constitutes a fair and reasonable royalty”. The suit argues Qualcomm withheld nearly $1 billion in payments it owes to Apple as retaliation because Apple cooperated with the Korea Fair Trade Commission. Last month, Korean regulators slapped Qualcomm with a $850 million fine over its patent-licensing practices.

Apple's suit, filed in federal district court in the Southern District of California, accuses Qualcomm of charging royalties for technologies “they have nothing to do with.” Responding to the complaint, Qualcomm called Apple's claims groundless and said they “misrepresented facts”.

Samsung seeks arbitration against Sharp and other LCD panel makers over supply halt

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 20, 2017

Samsung Electronics has filed a request for international arbitration against Sharp and two other LCD panel makers over supply panel halt, The Korea Herald reported Friday.

Owned by iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, Sharp said recently it would stop supplying LCDs to Samsung.

The Galaxy maker is now seeking $492 million in compensation from Sharp and other vendors, said industry sources. Samsung reportedly filed its request with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Appeals court reopens Apple vs. Samsung case over iPhone’s patented design

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 13, 2017

Believe it or not, the longstanding Apple vs. Samsung patent spat over iPhone's iconic design is now in its sixth year. During that time, Samsung was found guilty of infringing upon Apple's patented smartphone design, including iPhone's rectangular front face with rounded metal edges and a grid of colorful icons on a black screen.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reopened that lawsuit yesterday after a recommendation from the U.S. Supreme Court to determine how much Samsung should pay the Cupertino firm over copying iPhone's look and feel, according to court documents uncovered by Law360.com.

US appeals court rules Apple can be sued for monopolizing app market

Cody Lee ∙ January 13, 2017

iPhone app purchasers may sue Apple over allegations that it has monopolized the mobile app market by not allowing users to purchase them outside the App Store, reports Reuters. The decision comes from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and it revives a long-standing lawsuit regarding Apple's iPhone app practices.

In 2012, a group of iPhone users filed to sue Apple, saying its App Store exclusivity was anticompetitive. Apple responded to the suit, saying that users purchase apps from developers, and it merely rents out the space. A lower court sided with the Cupertino company, and threw the case out, but today's decision reverses the order.

Apple must replace a Danish man’s iPhone with a new unit rather than a refurbished model

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2016

Following a five-year fight over marketing manager David Lysgaard's faulty iPhone 4 he bought in 2011 from Apple.com, the Glostrup District Court has ruled that Apple did violate the Danish Sale of Goods Act by giving the man a “remanufactured” device instead of the brand new phone he was entitled to in accordance with local law, Domstol.dk reported Friday. Apple's warranty terms state that refurbs use either brand new parts or those that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability.

Supreme Court rules for Samsung in dispute with Apple over patent damages

Cody Lee ∙ December 6, 2016

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of Samsung in a dispute over damages related to Apple's iPhone design, reports CNBC. The decision means that Samsung won't be held liable for all $399 million awarded to Apple in a previous lower court ruling.

That amount is based on profits of 11 Samsung smartphones that were found guilty of infringing on Apple's designs, but Samsung argued the penalty is disproportionate. It believes it should only be liable for profits from specific components, and the Court agreed.

iPhone 6 “Touch Disease” class action suit gets support from three additional law firms

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2016

Class action lawsuit pertaining to an iPhone 6 Plus hardware flaw, referred to as “Touch Disease,” has gained support from three additional law firms.

Motherboard reports that lawyers who filed the original class action complaint have now signed on three additional law firms to support their case.

An additional “Touch Disease” class action suit has been filed against Apple in Utah and there is also a similar class action suit in Canada.

US Supreme Court to tackle the outcome of monster Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2016

Samsung is on the hook for $399 million in damages owed to Apple for stealing its patented iPhone designs in what's become the first legal battle over design patents in nearly 120 years.

A typical design patent covers the ornamental look of an object rather than any functional aspect.

According to Bloomberg this morning, the United States Supreme Court will determine the outcome of the monster Apple v. Samsung lawsuit on Tuesday, October 11.

Apple ordered to pay VirnetX $302.4 million in patent retrial

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 1, 2016

A jury has ordered Apple to pay $302.4 million to VirnetX Holding Corp over using its patented virtual private networking protocols in FaceTime and iMessage on the iPhone, iPad and Mac. The case will now go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington DC before VirnetX sees any payout, Reuters and Bloomberg reported today.

Apple’s case against Samsung gets support from Dieter Rams, Calvin Klein & other designers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 4, 2016

Apple's mega-lawsuit against Samsung is now in the hands of the United States Supreme Court, which should start hearing Samsung’s appeal over Apple’s design patent case in October. Ahead of court proceedings, Apple today filed an amicus brief containing support from 111 famed designers.

Some of them include well-known names like Jony Ive's friend Dieter Rams, fashion designer Calvin Klein and iSpaceship building designers over at Lord Norman Foster.

Judge voids $625 million verdict against Apple in VirnetX patent spat

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 1, 2016

In February 2016, a federal jury ordered that Apple pay $625 million to VirnetX Holding Corp after being found guilty of willfully infringing on technologies found in VirnetX's patents related to virtual private networking protocols. Friday, the judge voided that ruling after determining that the case should be revisited, CNBC reports. VirnetX alleges that its patented technology is used in FaceTime and iMessage on the iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Dutch court rules against replacing a user’s defective iPhone 6s with a refurbished unit

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 1, 2017

Speaking of lawsuits, a Dutch court has reportedly ruled in favor of a woman who took it upon herself to drag Apple to court over offering to replace her damaged iPhone 6 Plus with a refurbished rather than a brand new handset. This is Apple's standard policy in many markets, including where I live.

Recently, I took my iPhone 6s to a store over a faulty Home button and instead of servicing it they decided to give me a refurbished handset.

A judge in Amsterdam, however, was unimpressed and has ordered that Apple refund the plaintiff the full price she paid for her device.