We all use technology every day, and within those thousands of pieces of technology we find thousands more built up with designs and ideas from hundreds and thousands of areas. To protect companies interests in these designs and ideas they use patents, and the normal process is that if you wish to use a patents idea or the technology it protects then you request the owners permission. Sadly it would seem that some big companies use technology without supporting the little ones and in this case, Apple has been found guilty of just such a misuse.
The University of Wisconsin holds a patent that covers some technology designed to improve chip efficiency and given that almost every piece of technology these days use chips it’s obviously something that could support the university for long time into the future. In this case, though it would seem that the courts have voted in favour of the University of Wisconsin and has found Apple liable for using the technology without their permission, specifically in iPhones and iPads. The case is set to reappear in court, with the judge stating that it could cost Apple around $862.5 million, which isn’t the worst news for them given that just last month they had another case brought against them regarding the same technology but in the iPhone 6’s and the iPad’s A9 and A9x chips.
This isn’t the first time that these issues have been brought up, in 2008 Intel had the same charges brought against them, but this was immediately settled out of court. Although I doubt Apple is too worried about the money in the long-term.
Thank you Engadget for the information.
