Apple Inc has been ordered to pay $532.9 million after a federal jury in Texas found that its iTunes software infringed three patents owned by patent licensing firm Smartflash LLC.
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.
The Company Should change its name from "Smartflash" to "Smartsue"...
Before people start celebrating and throwing around their usual Apple bashing, just be aware that Smartflash is a patent troll. They could sue Samsung, Microsoft, Motorola - ANYONE - next week.
Patent Trolls are garbage. Non-practicing entities should be forced to pay higher taxes if they're even allowed to exist.