US jury awards Canada’s WiLan US$145 million damages against Apple

US jury awards Canada’s WiLan US$145 million damages against Apple

San Diego jury had determined that versions of Apple's iPhone infringed two WiLan patents relating to wireless communications technology, the patent licensing company said in a statement.

Silhouette of mobile user seen next to a screen projection of Apple’s logo, March 2018. (Reuters pic)
LOS ANGELES:
A federal jury in California has awarded Canadian patent licensing company WiLan Inc US$145.1 million in damages against Apple Inc for patent infringement, according to a court filing on Wednesday.

The jury in San Diego determined that versions of Apple’s iPhone infringed two WiLan patents relating to wireless communications technology, WiLan, a unit of Quarterhill Inc , said in a statement.

Apple confirmed it plans to appeal. The company earlier rejected claims of infringement in pre-trial filings.

In 2013, a US jury ruled in favour of Apple in a separate litigation in which WiLan had sought US$248 million in damages.

Founded in 1992 as a producer of broadband wireless technologies, Ottawa-based WiLan has shifted focus to licensing an extensive patent portfolio.

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