Since A $533 Million Payday Isn’t Enough, Patent Troll Smartflash Hits Apple With Another Lawsuit
Just days after winning a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple to the tune of $532.9 million, Smartflash LLC is again suing the Cupertino outfit over the exact same patents. The Texas-based company feels confident it can squeeze more money out of Apple by again claiming infringement, this time focusing on devices that were introduced after the prior case had begun.
According to Reuters, Smartflash wants Apple to pay additional damages for using its allegedly infringed patents without permission in devices like the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPad Air 2, none of which were included in the original case.
"Smartflash filed the complaint to address products that came out too far into the last proceedings to have been included," Smartflash's attorney Brad Caldwell said. "Apple cannot claim they don't know about these patents or understand that they are infringing. A diligent jury has already rejected those arguments."
After the original verdict that awarded Smartflash hundreds of millions of dollars, Apple issued a scathing statement that strongly suggested Smartflash was a patent troll, and that it planned to appeal the decision.
"Smartflash makes no products, has no employees, creates no jobs, has no U.S. presence, and is exploiting our patent system to seek royalties for technology Apple invented," said Kristin Huguet, an Apple spokeswoman. "We refused to pay off this company for the ideas our employees spent years innovating and unfortunately we have been left with no choice but to take this fight up through the court system."
The case went to trial in Tyler, Texas, which happens to be Smartflash's hometown. It's also a location that's been known to be friendly to patent infringement claims.
According to Reuters, Smartflash wants Apple to pay additional damages for using its allegedly infringed patents without permission in devices like the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPad Air 2, none of which were included in the original case.
"Smartflash filed the complaint to address products that came out too far into the last proceedings to have been included," Smartflash's attorney Brad Caldwell said. "Apple cannot claim they don't know about these patents or understand that they are infringing. A diligent jury has already rejected those arguments."
After the original verdict that awarded Smartflash hundreds of millions of dollars, Apple issued a scathing statement that strongly suggested Smartflash was a patent troll, and that it planned to appeal the decision.
"Smartflash makes no products, has no employees, creates no jobs, has no U.S. presence, and is exploiting our patent system to seek royalties for technology Apple invented," said Kristin Huguet, an Apple spokeswoman. "We refused to pay off this company for the ideas our employees spent years innovating and unfortunately we have been left with no choice but to take this fight up through the court system."
The case went to trial in Tyler, Texas, which happens to be Smartflash's hometown. It's also a location that's been known to be friendly to patent infringement claims.
