Apple, Broadcom ordered to pay USD 1.1 bn for patent infringement

A Los Angeles jury has ordered Apple and Broadcom to pay USD 1.1 billion to a university in California for infringing on four Wi-Fi techlogy patents.

Apple was ordered to pay USD 837 million and Broadcom must pay USD 270 million to California Institute of Techlogy, in what is thought to be one of largest patent verdicts ever. court prounced verdict on Wednesday.

Caltech, as university located near Los Angeles is kwn, had sued both tech giants in 2016, alleging that Apple products including iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches used Broadcom components that infringed on Caltech patents related to wireless data transmissions. Both Apple and Broadcom indicated y planned to appeal verdict.

"Caltech appreciates jury's thoughtful attention throughout trial," university said in a statement to AFP. "We are pleased jury found that Apple and Broadcom infringed Caltech patents.

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"As a nprofit institution of higher education, Caltech is committed to protecting its intellectual property in furrance of its mission to expand human kwledge and benefit society through research integrated with education."

In court documents, Apple and Broadcom had said that Caltech's claims "are based solely on incorporation of allegedly infringing Broadcom chips in Apple's iPhone, Mac, and or devices."

"Broadcom manufactures accused chips, while Apple is merely an indirect downstream party whose products incorporate accused chips," according to court filings.

"Accordingly, claims that Caltech has against Apple depend on establishing that accused Broadcom chips infringe patents and that patents-in-suit are t invalid," it stated.

Broadcom was main target of lawsuit but Apple was also named as it is one of Broadcom's biggest customers. 

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