Appeals court overturns US$533mil verdict against Apple

Bucking the trend: While PC sales slumped in 2015, Apple saw its position improve with shipments climbing 2.8% to some 5.66 billion in a year-over-year comparison, according to IDC.

WASHINGTON: A US appellate court overturned a US$533mil (RM2.37bil) patent verdict against Apple, saying the award was based on “routine computer activities” which cannot be patented. 

The decision comes two years after a federal court in Texas ordered Apple to pay the award to the little-known firm Smartflash LLC, which sued claiming the technology giant infringed on patents for flash memory technology used in the iTunes music store.