Apple and Qualcomm will have to face a patent lawsuit in Texas, following a court ruling that denied their efforts to move the case to California. The U.S. District Court and the Federal Circuit Court have both sided with Red Rock Analytics, a company widely described as a patent troll.
The legal dispute, originally filed in 2021, claims that Apple and Qualcomm infringed on a patent related to balancing radio signal components. Red Rock alleges that specific Qualcomm chips used in Apple’s iPhones—including models from the iPhone 12 series—violate U.S. Patent No. 7,346,313.
A History of Targeting Tech Giants
Red Rock Analytics is a non-practicing entity, meaning it holds patents but does not manufacture products. Critics often label such firms as patent trolls because they profit by suing larger companies for infringement rather than developing technology.
This isn’t Red Rock’s first legal action. In 2019, the company filed a similar lawsuit against Apple, targeting Wi-Fi-enabled devices like the iPhone 7 through iPhone X. It also took action against Samsung for violating the same patent.
Although the lawsuit first surfaced years ago, these cases are notoriously slow-moving. Legal experts say they often span many years due to technical complexities and venue disputes.
Why Texas?
Texas has become a favored venue for patent litigation, particularly in courts known to be more plaintiff-friendly. Despite Apple and Qualcomm’s argument that California would be more appropriate—since both companies are headquartered there—the court ruled in favor of keeping the case in Texas.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, damages, and royalty payments. It also includes a request to stop Apple and Qualcomm from using the disputed technology.
