iTunes software infringes three Smartflash patents, a jury finds; Apple says it will appeal
A Texas jury ordered Apple Inc. to pay $532.9 million after finding that the company’s iTunes software infringed three patents of privately held Smartflash LLC.
The Cupertino, Calif., tech giant vowed to appeal the verdict.
Smartflash owns three patents related to data storage and payment management. The Tyler, Texas, company alleged that, in 2000, patent co-inventor Patrick Racz shared his ideas with Augustin Farrugia, then a member of the tech company Gemplus International SA. Mr. Farrugia is now a senior director at Apple.
