Wisconsin University Beats Apple in Microchip Patent Case

It’s nothing unusual for companies to fight each other in court over patent infringement issues, but it’s still quite amazing to find out about the enormous sums of money that losing parties are forced to pay in the end. Apple has recently been ordered by a court to pay more than $234 million (£152 million) in damages to the Wisconsin University. The lawsuit was based on a patented microchip technology that was implemented in Apple’s iPhone 5S, 6 and 6 Plus models, and it looks like newer models such as the 6S and 6S Plus will also be targeted in the near future. The microchip tech was designed to improve the performance of computer processors, and the University has also filed a lawsuit against Intel in 2008 for the same patent. However, that particular case was settled outside the courtroom for an unknown sum.

Regarding the case against Apple, the managing director over at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Carl Gulbrandsen, had a few words to say to BBC;

“This is a case where the hard work of our university researchers and the integrity of patenting and licensing discoveries has prevailed. The jury recognised the seminal computer processing work that took place on our campus.”

Even though Apple’s representatives have not issued an official comment at the time of writing, it looks like the company will actually file an appeal.