A Texas-based federal jury had told Apple to pay around $308.5 million to a local licensing firm over the infringement of a patent related to digital rights management, reports Bloomberg.
Jurors on Friday said Apple must pay running loyalty fees to Texas-based Personalized Media Communications (PMC). Running loyalty fees are generally based on the sales of a product or service.
PMC originally filed suit against Apple in 2015 for allegedly infringing seven of the company’s patents. The company claimed Apple infringed its patents with the technology used to distribute encrypted content through the company’s App Store, Apple Music, and iTunes apps.
Although Apple had successfully challenged the Texas firm’s case at the U.S. patent office, an appeals court reversed that decision in March of last year. This allowed a trial to proceed.
PMC is a non-practicing entity that has a portfolio of patents it has purchased over the years, using the portfolio to generate revenue through patent litigation. Many times, companies like this are referred to as “patent trolls.” The company currently has infringement cases pending against Amazon, Google, Netflix, and several other tech companies.
