Apple Must Pay Fairly: PanOptis Campaign Shows Company’s Efforts to Devalue Essential IP
PanOptis has launched a campaign highlighting Apple's (AAPL) alleged practices of undermining and underpaying innovators for essential patents, particularly concerning LTE technology. The company argues that Apple's approach involves exploiting innovative technologies while implementing policies that devalue them to maximize profits.
The campaign focuses on how Apple's strategy affects companies like Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, InterDigital, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic, which invest billions in cellular R&D. According to Brian Blasius, PanOptis CEO, this behavior forces patent holders to settle for royalties far below their patents' true worth due to prolonged litigation costs.
PanOptis warns that this practice could stagnate mobile technological progress and disincentivize cellular R&D investment. An appellate hearing in the U.K. is scheduled for February 25 to address fair patent payouts.
PanOptis ha lanciato una campagna che mette in evidenza le presunte pratiche di Apple (AAPL) volte a screditare e sottopagare gli innovatori per brevetti essenziali, in particolare per quanto riguarda la tecnologia LTE. L'azienda sostiene che l'approccio di Apple consiste nello sfruttare tecnologie innovative mentre adotta politiche che le svalutano per massimizzare i profitti.
La campagna si concentra su come la strategia di Apple influisca su aziende come Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, InterDigital, Samsung, LG e Panasonic, che investono miliardi in ricerca e sviluppo cellulare. Secondo Brian Blasius, CEO di PanOptis, questo comportamento costringe i titolari di brevetti a concordare diritti ben al di sotto del reale valore dei loro brevetti a causa dei costi legali prolungati.
PanOptis avverte che questa pratica potrebbe stagnare il progresso tecnologico mobile e disincentivare gli investimenti in R&D cellulare. Un'udienza in appello nel Regno Unito è prevista per il 25 febbraio per affrontare i pagamenti equi dei brevetti.
PanOptis ha lanzado una campaña que destaca las prácticas alegadas de Apple (AAPL) de socavar y pagar menos a los innovadores por patentes esenciales, especialmente en relación con la tecnología LTE. La compañía argumenta que el enfoque de Apple implica explotar tecnologías innovadoras mientras implementa políticas que las devalúan para maximizar sus ganancias.
La campaña se centra en cómo la estrategia de Apple afecta a empresas como Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, InterDigital, Samsung, LG y Panasonic, que invierten miles de millones en I+D celular. Según Brian Blasius, CEO de PanOptis, este comportamiento obliga a los titulares de patentes a aceptar regalías muy por debajo del verdadero valor de sus patentes debido a los costos de la litigación prolongada.
PanOptis advierte que esta práctica podría estancar el progreso tecnológico móvil y desincentivar la inversión en I+D celular. Una audiencia de apelación en el Reino Unido está programada para el 25 de febrero para abordar los pagos justos de patentes.
PanOptis는 Apple (AAPL)의 필수 특허에 대한 혁신가의 권리를 저하시키고 저가로 책정하기 위한 주장된 관행을 강조하는 캠페인을 시작했습니다. 회사는 Apple의 접근 방식이 혁신 기술을 이용하면서 이를 평가 절하하는 정책을 시행하여 이익을 극대화하고 있다고 주장합니다.
이 캠페인은 Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, InterDigital, Samsung, LG 및 Panasonic과 같은 회사들이 모바일 연구 개발에 수십억을 투자하는 방식에 대해 Apple의 전략이 미치는 영향을 중심으로 합니다. Brian Blasius, PanOptis CEO에 따르면, 이러한 행동은 특허 보유자들이 장기적인 소송 비용 때문에 그들의 특허 진정한 가치보다 훨씬 낮은 로얄티로 합의하도록 강요합니다.
PanOptis는 이러한 관행이 모바일 기술 발전을 지연시키고 무선 연구 개발 투자에 대한 동기를 저하시킬 수 있다고 경고합니다. 2월 25일에는 공정한 특허 지급을 다루기 위한 영국에서의 항소 심리가 예정되어 있습니다.
PanOptis a lancé une campagne soulignant les pratiques alléguées d'Apple (AAPL) visant à miner et sous-payer les innovateurs pour des brevets essentiels, en particulier concernant la technologie LTE. L'entreprise soutient que l'approche d'Apple consiste à exploiter des technologies innovantes tout en mettant en place des politiques qui les dévaluent afin de maximiser les profits.
La campagne se concentre sur la manière dont la stratégie d'Apple affecte des entreprises comme Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, InterDigital, Samsung, LG et Panasonic, qui investissent des milliards dans la R&D cellulaire. Selon Brian Blasius, PDG de PanOptis, ce comportement force les titulaires de brevets à accepter des redevances bien en dessous de la véritable valeur de leurs brevets en raison des coûts de litige prolongés.
PanOptis avertit que cette pratique pourrait stagner le progrès technologique mobile et décourager les investissements en R&D cellulaire. Une audience en appel au Royaume-Uni est prévue pour le 25 février afin d'examiner les paiements de brevets équitables.
PanOptis hat eine Kampagne gestartet, die die angeblichen Praktiken von Apple (AAPL) hervorhebt, Innovatoren für wesentliche Patente zu untergraben und unterzuzahlen, insbesondere im Hinblick auf LTE-Technologie. Das Unternehmen argumentiert, dass Apples Ansatz darin besteht, innovative Technologien auszubeuten, während sie Richtlinien implementieren, die deren Wert herabsetzen, um den Gewinn zu maximieren.
Die Kampagne konzentriert sich darauf, wie die Strategie von Apple Unternehmen wie Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, InterDigital, Samsung, LG und Panasonic beeinflusst, die Milliarden in die Forschungs- und Entwicklungsarbeit im Mobilfunk investieren. Laut Brian Blasius, CEO von PanOptis, zwingt dieses Verhalten die Inhaber von Patenten dazu, sich mit Lizenzgebühren zufrieden zu geben, die weit unter dem wahren Wert ihrer Patente liegen, aufgrund langfristiger Rechtsstreitkosten.
PanOptis warnt, dass diese Praxis den technologischen Fortschritt im Mobilfunk stagnieren lassen und die Investition in F&E im Mobilfunkbereich entmutigen könnte. Eine Berufungsverhandlung im Vereinigten Königreich ist für den 25. Februar angesetzt, um faire Patentvergütungen zu prüfen.
- None.
- Apple allegedly underpays for essential patents and technology
- Company faces legal challenges over patent compensation
- Strategy potentially stifles innovation and R&D investment in cellular technology
Insights
This patent dispute campaign by PanOptis represents a significant financial and strategic risk for Apple, extending beyond mere monetary considerations. The allegations of systematic patent devaluation could trigger broader regulatory scrutiny and impact Apple's relationships with key technology partners.
The focus on LTE technology is particularly noteworthy as it's fundamental to Apple's product ecosystem. Historical precedents in similar patent disputes have resulted in settlements ranging from
The timing of this campaign coincides with the broader global regulatory focus on tech giants' market power. This convergence could amplify regulatory attention and potentially lead to:
- Increased scrutiny of Apple's licensing practices across multiple jurisdictions
- Higher future licensing costs affecting profit margins
- Strained relationships with key technology partners and potential innovation barriers
- Possible regulatory interventions in technology licensing frameworks
The upcoming UK appellate hearing on February 25 could set important precedents for future patent valuations and licensing terms. This case's outcome could influence Apple's negotiating position with other patent holders and potentially reshape the company's approach to intellectual property licensing.
iProtectInnovation.com highlights Apple’s long-term scheme to undermine and underpay innovators and devalue essential patents
Despite its innovative veneer, Apple has a long and ongoing record of exploiting inventors
Appellate hearing in the
For smartphones, including Apple’s iPhone, the most important development in the last 20 years was the rapid wireless network called LTE (Long-Term Evolution), the first truly global standard that could connect us all. LTE serves as the global standard for mobile functionality, and these types of common standards allow consumers using a smartphone from any OEM to share voice and data in a seamless and efficient manner.
Companies such as Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nokia, InterDigital, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic, among others, invest tens of billions of dollars annually in cellular-related R&D. As with any such effort, these companies protect their ideas by obtaining patents. At every juncture, Apple’s approach to leveraging this intellectual property and innovative common standard reveals a distinct pattern: exploiting innovative technologies that support and enable its products and ecosystem, while putting in place policies which have the effect of devaluing said technologies – all with the aim of maximizing its own profits.
Apple’s strategy not only cripples cellular R&D by disincentivizing its outputs, but also distorts the overall tech landscape and, if left unaddressed, has the potential to significantly stagnate mobile technological progress in the long-term.
“At a moment of significant tech concentration, with ecosystems’ omnipotence largely unchecked, it is crucial that the market and legal systems enable patent holders to recoup their high sunk costs and other investments and provide a reward for innovation that is appropriately aligned with their economic contributions,” said Brian Blasius, President and CEO of PanOptis. “Large market players such as Apple must not be allowed to close the door behind them.”
Blasius added, “Surviving without Apple’s royalties for a long court fight is not feasible for patent holders making real contributions to cellular innovation. In the face of prolonged litigation on multiple fronts, even large companies – with shareholders to answer to – must settle at royalty amounts that are a mere fraction of the true worth of their patents. Apple’s policies not only place great costs on other mobile manufacturers and innovators, but also disincentivize and reduce the number of opportunities for inventors and engineers to invest in cellular R&D.”
When the rewards of innovation flow disproportionately toward a few tech gatekeepers, innovation, as an economic force, will ultimately be diminished. To learn more about Apple’s ongoing tactics, we encourage you to visit iProtectInnovation.com and hold Apple accountable.
About PanOptis
PanOptis was formed in 2013 to license a certain set of patents that are essential to cellular standards (SEPs) from Ericsson, LG, and Panasonic and help them obtain the fair return they were due from mobile phone manufacturers for the usage of the valuable R&D that they contributed to the industry. Given the strength of its patent portfolio, which has been scrutinized and validated by the courts in the US,
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250203504037/en/
Media:
media@iprotectinnovation.com
Source: PanOptis
FAQ
What is the patent dispute between PanOptis and Apple (AAPL) about?
When is the UK appellate hearing for the Apple (AAPL) patent case scheduled?
How does Apple (AAPL)'s patent strategy affect cellular R&D investment?
Which major tech companies are affected by Apple (AAPL)'s patent policies?
