Apple is set for a legal summer, as a federal jury in Delaware has ruled that the tech giant must pay $110.7 million to Spanish company TOT Power Control for patent infringement related to 3G wireless communications.
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A Crucial Technology for 3G
In detail, TOT Power Control holds a patent on an algorithm that optimizes energy consumption and reduces radio interference in 3G networks. This system dynamically adjusts the power output based on the signal-to-noise ratio, enhancing both the network efficiency and the battery life of devices.
The Spanish company claimed that Apple had been using this technology without a license in several of its products—iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch—through integrated radio chips. Consequently, TOT Power Control initiated a patent infringement lawsuit.
On June 30, 2025, the jury found Cupertino guilty of infringing the first patent (US 7,532,865) but not the second (US 7,496,376). Additionally, Apple’s attempt to invalidate both patents was unanimously rejected.
As a result, Cupertino will have to pay a per-unit royalty of $0.25, amounting to a total of $110,734,008. This running royalty mechanism could end up costing Apple more in the long run than a one-time payment.
What’s Next?
Not surprisingly, Apple told Reuters that it was “disappointed with this decision” and confirmed its intention to appeal. The company is no stranger to intellectual property disputes and has often succeeded in invalidating patents in similar cases.
On the other hand, TOT Power Control welcomed the acknowledgment of its rights, emphasizing the need to protect technical innovations in the highly competitive telecommunications industry.
The Delaware District Court is known for the quality and technicality of its rulings, especially in complex litigation like patent disputes. The judges are considered more neutral than those in Texas, a state favored by Patent Trolls.