Texas-based Optis Cellular Technology sued Apple in 2019
over its use of patents which Optis says are essential to certain technological
standards, such as 4G.
London's High Court ruled last year that two of Optis' 4G
patents were so-called standard essential patents and that Apple had infringed
them.
Apple appealed against that decision in May, arguing that
the two patents in issue were not essential to 4G standards and that it had not
infringed the patents.
But its challenge was rejected by the Court of Appeal, with
Judge Colin Birss saying in a written ruling that the High Court was
"right to reject (Apple's) argument for non-infringement" and on the
issue of the patents being essential.
Apple and Optis did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
Tuesday's ruling is the latest decision in the legal battle
between Apple and Optis, which began in 2019 and has prompted six separate
trials and several appellate hearings in Britain alone.
The Court of Appeal last month upheld an appeal by Optis
against an earlier decision to revoke two other 4G-related patents, following a
ruling in October that Optis is entitled to an injunction to stop Apple
infringing its patents before a court has ruled on the fair, reasonable and
non-discriminatory terms of use.
Apple was granted permission earlier this year to appeal
against the October ruling. © Reuters