Optis Cellular Tech. LLC v. Apple Inc.

In a pivotal ruling for patent damages and standard-essential patent (SEP) litigation, the Federal Circuit vacated a $300 million award against Apple in a long-standing dispute with Optis Cellular Technology, LLC. See Optis Cellular Tech., LLC v. Apple Inc. (“Op.”). The Federal Circuit sided with Apple on multiple fronts—vacating the damages and infringement findings, reversing § 101 findings on the claims of one of Optis’s patents, and reversing a finding that another patent did not invoke 35 USC § 112 ¶6 (The patent at issue was issued pre-AIA so §112(f) is referred to as 112 ¶ 6 as in the original statute language). The Court also affirmed claim construction of certain terms and held the lower court abused its discretion under Federal Rules of Evidence 403 by admitting certain damages evidence and testimony from Optis.