Seung Jin Kim and Pinn Inc. reportedly sued Apple for patent infringement, specifically claiming that the initial generation of AirPods, which went on sale six years ago, infringed on their patent rights related to wireless headphone technology.

Plaintiff Kim claims that he filed a patent eight years ago to solve the problems that plagued older, bulky Bluetooth headset products and invented a redesigned, re-architected hands-free wireless headset technology that makes the headset smaller, lighter, with a longer-lasting battery, and designed to fit the human ear.

Kim conceived the idea of a “smart box,” which he sketched in pencil in January 2015. The version of the “smart box” Kim sketched had a speaker, LCD screen and a clip to attach to the lapel of a shirt, according to testimony.

Kim wanted Apple to pay them 60 cents in royalties for every set of AirPods they sold, which at the time totaled $42 million (about $304 million). While Kim did hold two patents on wireless headphone technology, Apple argued that the company’s AirPods-related development work dated back a decade before the product’s launch.

The jury selection process in the case was supposed to begin today, but the court was notified that Apple and Kim had reached a settlement, meaning that Apple gave Kim a sum of money to drop the case.

Apple was previously sued by Jawbone and Koss over AirPods, and ended up settling privately as well. Shortly after acquiring Beats, Apple was also sued by Bose for its headphone technology, which was eventually settled.

The post Apple AirPods patent infringement case settled, patents were applied 8 years ago appeared first on TechGoing.

Earlier this week, the European Union Parliament approved a new directive that requires manufacturers to offer USB-C as a universal charging interface for a wide range of devices in Europe by the end of 2024. In his latest ‘Power On’ newsletter, Gurman says that Apple has been preparing for these new legal requirements.

Gurman believes that Apple will have most of its products compliant with the legislation by the end of 2024. He claims that Apple’s iPhone 15 series will switch to USB-C in the autumn of 2023, a year before the EU requirement. The entry-level iPad, the only iPad still with a Lightning connector, is expected to switch to USB-C by the end of the year.

Gurman also speculated that Apple could release a new iPhone SE with a Lightning connector instead of USB-C in March 2024, in time for the new law to take effect and be available in the EU.

Gurman notes that Apple will be making several major Mac updates next year, including the new iMac and Mac Pro. The Mac accessories that go with them will also switch to the USB-C connector.

But Gurman doesn’t think Apple will stay with the USB-C connector for long – the previous 30-pin iPod connector and Lightning connector lasted 11 years – and Apple is aiming for a transition to the wireless era with some future version of the AirPower wireless charging pad, for example.

The post Gurman: Apple AirPods and Mac accessories may switch to USB-C by 2024 appeared first on TechGoing.