Apple has been ordered to pay patent licensing firm Smartflash $532.9m over the use of three of its patents within iTunes
Apple has been ordered to pay $532.9 million after a federal jury in Texas found its iTunes software infringed three patents owned by patent licensing firm Smartflash.
Though Smartflash had been asking for $852 million in damages, Tuesday night's verdict was still a blow to Apple.
The jury, which deliberated for eight hours, determined Apple had not only used Smartflash's patents without permission, but did so willfully.
Apple, which said it would appeal, said the outcome was another reason reform was needed in the patent system to curb litigation by companies that don't make products themselves.
"We refused to pay off this company for the ideas our employees spent years innovatingand unfortunately we have been left with no choice but to take this fight up through the court system," Apple said in a statement.
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