UK Court Rules Apple Must Pay Optis $502 Million Over 4G Patent Use

On May 1, 2025, the UK Court of Appeal ruled that Apple must pay $502 million to Optis Cellular Technology LLC in a patent dispute over 4G technology used in iPhones and iPads. This decision significantly increases the amount from a previous 2023 High Court ruling, which had set the payment at $56.43 million.

The dispute began in 2019 when Optis, a Texas-based company holding patents essential to 4G standards, sued Apple in the UK. Optis claimed that Apple used its patents without proper licensing agreements. The Court of Appeal's ruling covers the period from 2013 to 2027 and is based on a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) royalty rate of $0.15 per Apple device, derived from comparable licensing agreements with other companies.

Apple expressed disappointment with the decision and plans to appeal, criticizing Optis for seeking substantial payments despite not producing any products. Conversely, Optis welcomed the ruling, stating that it acknowledges the value of their intellectual property and ensures fair compensation for technologies enabling high-speed connectivity in millions of devices worldwide.