Apple is being sued for the second time by Texas-based patent holder Smartflash LLC for infringing the same patents brought up in the last case. The difference this time around is that it involves the use of Smartflash’s technology in newer devices launched after the original case went to trial, reports Reuters.
The new complaint was filed on Wednesday in the same court in the city of Tyler, where Apple was ordered to pay nearly $533 million for infringing Smartflash’s patents. The company claims that the previous case did not cover Apple’s use of its technology in recent devices like the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, as well as the iPad Air 2.
While its previous payout may seem like chump change for Apple — which is currently worth nearly $700 billion — the company believes that current laws allow patent holders to profit without having to build and ship products, and that it’s high time the patent system saw reform.
We’ve contacted Apple for comment on the latest case and will update this post when we hear back.
➤ Apple faces second suit from victorious patent firm [Reuters]
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