Apple hit for University of Wisconsin processor patent

Apple infringed a patent for optimising processor performance

Last week a jury found that Apple had infringed a patent of the foundation for optimising processor performance, and now it has declared the amount to be paid. The technology was allegedly used in iPhone and iPad chips.

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) had been looking for damages of $400m.

Apple had originally asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to review the patent’s validity, but this was rejected earlier in the year.

Royalty per unit

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, WARF’s attorney Morgan Chu had argued that royalty should be $2.74 per unit. The settlement represents a royalty rate of about $1.60 per unit.

It quotes Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of WARF:

This is a case where the hard work of our university researchers and the integrity of patenting and licensing discoveries has prevailed.

The jury recognized the seminal computer processing work that took place on our campus. This decision is great news for the inventors, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and for WARF.

Apple is expected to appeal.

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