Qualcomm Wants Apple To Pay $31 Million For Infringing Patents

On Friday, Qualcomm said that it wants Apple to pay compensation of $31 million for the damages caused by Apple’s infringement on its patents.

In the most recent twist in a long-running legal battle between the two tech giants, the trial focuses on three of Qualcomm’s technology patents that the chipmaker accused Apple of using in some iPhone models without its consent. The company argued that the number is calculated from $1.40 per iPhone that carries the infringed tech.

Three patents centered this time include one that enables faster Internet connection when turning the device on, one that enhances battery life and graphics processing, and the other boosts download data by directing traffic between the modem and the chip.

While $31 million is no considerable a number to a trillion company, a victory in this lawsuit would help Qualcomm confirm consolidate its reputation as a pioneer regarding mobile components.

Behind the calculation is managing director and economist Patrick Kennedy of Torrey Partners which was called by Qualcomm to the trial as an expert witness. He counted the damages for iPhone sold from July 2017 with Intel chips. In 2016, Apple started using Intel modems instead of Qualcomm modems for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Now, Apple has used Intel modems for all of its latest iPhone models.

Apple counsel Joe Muller, in cross-examination, said that Kennedy overstated the patented technology.

At the current stage, the trial has focused more on the technical aspect rather than the legal aspect. Apple’s counsel said on Friday that a key witness would appear to testify after yesterday when he said he had backed out.

The iPhone maker has argued that its former engineer co-invented one of the three technologies and should be included in the patent. On Thursday, however, the company said that Siva would not testify.