The iPhone 7 launch comes with just a little bit of bad news for Apple.
A federal jury in Texas has ruled that the iPhone-maker has infringed on patents held by a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corp, resulting in a hefty fine.
Apple was ordered to pay $22.1 million by the jury in Tyler, Texas for willingly using cellular network-related technology that Acacia holds a patent for.
Patent trolls like Acacia have made Apple a frequent target of lawsuits. In this case though the jury says Apple knew it was violating Acacia’s patent.
“The jury also said that Apple did not prove that the patent was invalid,” reports Reuters. “A finding of willfulness allows the presiding judge, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nicole Mitchell, to boost damages by up to three times, at her discretion.”
The good news for Apple is it makes $22 million as quickly as you can say iPhone 7.
