A Texas court has overturned a $625m patent infringement award against Apple citing lack of evidence.
Judge Davis rejected Mirror Worlds’ case against Apple, saying that the jury erred in finding that Apple used technology owned by Mirror Worlds LLC illegally.
Davis said, "It is the Court’s job to inspect that foundation, and where it has not been properly laid under the law, to set aside the verdict to protect the reliability of our jury system."
A jury in federal court in Tyler, Texas had found that Apple infringed three of Mirror Worlds’ patents last year.
It awarded the company $208.5m for each patent, or $625.5m overall.
However, Apple appealed the verdict which the court upheld saying that Mirror Worlds failed to substantiate its charges against Apple.
"Mirror Worlds may have painted an appealing picture for the jury, but it failed to lay a solid foundation sufficient to support important elements it was required to establish under the law," said Judge Davis in his ruling.
"The jury often relies on the representations of parties, who bear the burden of being accurate and complete and living up to the representations they make to the jury. No matter how attractive a party paints the facade of its case, it is worthless without the requisite foundational support."
"Accordingly, the Court rejects Mirror Worlds’ case as to infringement and damages, while affirming it as to validity and inequitable conduct."
