Apple failed to challenge Qualcomm patents in court again

Apple Inc has filed to renew an application in an attempt to invalidate 3 of Qualcomm Inc's smartphone patents. On Monday, the U.S. The Supreme Court refused to consider it again, although the settlement of the main conflict between the 2 technology companies has already taken place.

In June, the company appealed in a lower court decision in a closely related case challenging 2 other Qualcomm patents. After that, the judges left in force the decision of the lower court against Apple.

Qualcomm has claimed the infringement of several patents on mobile technology in the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Then, in 2017, the company brought the case against Apple in federal court in San Diego. The technology giants already had a more global disagreement at that time. This case was part of it.

In 2019, the companies signed a billion-dollar settlement agreement. Under it, Apple could continue to use Qualcomm chips in the iPhone, including Apple's license to thousands of Qualcomm patents. At the same time, it allowed the continuation of the proceedings before the Patent Board. This was the settlement of the main conflict between the companies.

The Board supported the patents in 2020. Apple has appealed to the court with proper legal grounds of appeal again. Furthermore, Qualcomm could take to the court again after the license expires, possibly starting in 2025.

The case was closed last year. The reason was the lack of legal capacity. The three-judge panel found that Apple's risk of retrial was speculative and that the challenge would not affect its payment obligations under the settlement agreement.

Qualcomm's statement was said again that Apple had no specific arguments to support the appeal.