According to Reuters, the California Institute of Technology submitted a document to the US Federal Court on Thursday, and it is expected to reach a “potential settlement” with Apple and Broadcom on the data transmission patent in the Wi-Fi chip.
The incident dates back to 2016, when Caltech filed an indictment in Los Angeles federal court to formally sue Apple and Broadcom.
Caltech argues that millions of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and other devices that use Broadcom WiFi chips infringe a data transmission patent held by the university.
Apple is a major buyer of Broadcom chips, and the two sides reached a $15 billion chip supply agreement in January 2020, which will end in 2023. Broadcom estimates that 20% of its revenue comes from Apple.
In 2020, the court ordered Apple and Broadcom to pay Caltech US$837.8 million and US$270.2 million in patent infringement damages, totaling US$1.1 billion.
In 2022, however, a U.S. appeals court overturned that ruling and ordered a reopening of the issue of damages, arguing that the original award was “not legally supportable.”
The trial, originally scheduled to begin in June 2023, was postponed indefinitely in May.
In the document submitted by Caltech on August 10, it is clear that Broadcom has signed the settlement agreement, and it remains to be seen whether Apple decides to settle.
All parties have requested a joint status report by Friday, August 18, the report said. Attempts by Reuters to contact Apple, Broadcom and Caltech declined to comment.
