Caltech Resolves Patent Dispute with Apple and Broadcom Over Wi-Fi Chips

Highlights

• Caltech concludes patent lawsuit against Apple and Broadcom over Wi-Fi chips.
• Lawsuit initiated in 2016 alleging patent infringement in various Apple devices.
• Caltech dismisses the billion-dollar case with prejudice, barring re-filing.
• Both parties hinted at a potential settlement in August; specific terms undisclosed.
• Previous jury ruling of $837.8 million for Apple and $270.2 million for Broadcom overturned.
• New trial on damages ordered, initially scheduled for June, now indefinitely postponed.
• Caltech settles similar lawsuit with Samsung; other cases against Microsoft, Dell, and HP pending.

  The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has recently come to an agreement to conclude a longstanding patent lawsuit against tech giants Apple and Broadcom in a California federal court. This legal battle, which began in 2016, centered around allegations that millions of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, employing Broadcom chips, were in violation of Caltech’s wireless-communication patents.

  In a recent filing, Caltech stated that it would dismiss the billion-dollar case with prejudice, signifying that it cannot be reopened. This decision follows both parties informing the court in August about a potential settlement, although specific terms were not disclosed. As of now, representatives for Caltech, Apple, and Broadcom have not yet commented on the matter.

  In 2020, a jury initially ruled that Apple was to pay $837.8 million and Broadcom $270.2 million in damages for patent infringement. However, this decision was subsequently overturned by a U.S. appeals court last year, deeming the awarded amounts as “legally unsupportable.” Consequently, a new trial on damages was ordered. Originally slated to commence this June, the trial was indefinitely postponed in May.

  Caltech had previously settled a similar lawsuit against Samsung in August. Moreover, the university has ongoing cases against Microsoft, Dell, and HP regarding its Wi-Fi patents.

  This resolution marks a significant development in a protracted legal battle, highlighting the complexities and intricacies surrounding patent disputes within the tech industry. The outcome of this agreement may have far-reaching implications for future patent-related conflicts involving prominent technology companies.