Caltech Settles Seven-Year Patent Battle with Apple & Broadcom

After a prolonged seven-year legal dispute, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has reached a settlement with tech giants Apple and Broadcom over allegations of patent infringement related to Wi-Fi technology. The case, which began in 2016, has finally come to a close with a significant development in favor of Caltech, reported Reuters.

In August 2023, Caltech signaled the impending conclusion of the case by filing a court document that hinted at a potential settlement. Although the document did not provide any detailed information about the terms of the agreement, it indicated that a previously scheduled status conference would proceed as planned on August 24, 2023.

Reports indicated that all three parties – Caltech, Apple, and Broadcom – were expected to jointly file a status report by August 18, 2023, but it remains unclear whether this occurred. However, recent information obtained by Reuters confirms that Caltech has formally filed a “request for dismissal” of the case, bringing the prolonged legal battle to an end.

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In its concise court filing, Caltech formally requested the dismissal of all claims and counterclaims with prejudice. The document specifically addressed the university’s dispute with Broadcom, and in a subsequent line, it also included Apple, stating, “In addition, Caltech respectfully requests that all counterclaims asserted by Apple also be dismissed with prejudice, with each party bearing its own costs and attorneys’ fees.” Notably, Broadcom did not oppose this request.

The legal dispute began in 2016 when Caltech accused Apple and Broadcom of infringing upon four of its Wi-Fi patents. The case reached its zenith in 2020 when the court ruled in favor of Caltech, holding Apple liable for patent infringement and ordering the tech giant to pay a substantial sum of $838 million. Additionally, Broadcom was also held accountable and required to pay $270 million in damages.

The settlement marks the conclusion of a lengthy and contentious legal battle, which has captivated the technology and legal communities for years. The specific terms of the settlement and any financial agreements between the parties involved have not been disclosed at this time.

Source: Reuters