Apple faces a hefty legal bill after a jury found it guilty of using technology owned by a US university without permission.
The licensing arm of the University of Wisconsin claims Apple's A7 chip infringes on a patent it filed in 1998.
Apple rejected the claims as 'invalid' but a jury this week awarded in favour of the university, which could leave the tech giant facing damages of up to $862 million (£561 million).
The patent in question, called Table based data speculation circuit for parallel processing computer, was awarded to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Warf) in 1998.
It details technology built into processing chips that makes them more efficient.
WARF VERSUS APPLE
The patent in question, called Table based data speculation circuit for parallel processing computer, was awarded to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Warf) in 1998.
Warf sued Apple in January 2014 and initially named the A7 and its related products, which at the time included the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPad Mini with Retina display.
Apple's A8 and A8X were included in the suit after the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
Apple denied any infringement and argued that the patent is invalid.
It had previously tried to convince the US Patent and Trademark Office to review the patent's validity, but in April the agency rejected this bid.
The jury in Madison, Wisconsin was asked to consider whether Apple's A7, as well as its A8 and A8X processors violate the patent and confirm whether the patent was valid.
It awarded in favour of Warf on both counts and the trial will now move on to determine how much Apple owes in damages.
In the paper work, this patent is referred to as the '752 patent.
As the filing explained: 'Warf is informed and believes that Defendant has been, and currently is, infringing the ’752 patent...without license or authority.'
The original filing was made in January 2014 and initially named the A7 and its related products, which at the time included the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPad Mini with Retina display.
This was later updated to include the iPad mini 3.
Apple's A8 and A8X were then included in the suit following on from the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
Apple introduced its dual-core, ARM-based A7 chip in 2013 with an embedded secure section that stores data for iPhone 5s and iPad mini 3 Touch ID fingerprint systems.
Apple denied any infringement and argued that the patent is invalid.
It had previously tried to convince the US Patent and Trademark Office to review the patent's validity, but in April the agency rejected this bid.
This week, the jury in Madison, Wisconsin was asked to confirm whether the patent was valid, and to consider whether Apple's A7, as well as its A8 and A8X processors violate it.
It awarded in favour of Warf on both counts and the trial will now move on to determine how much Apple owes in damages.
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