Apple’s legal department has scored a win over CPC Patent Technologies Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Charter Pacific, a Queensland-based company that claimed Apple’s Touch ID and Face ID patents it had acquired in 2019.
The case kicked off about four years ago and sought to block Apple from manufacturing, importing, selling or supplying a wide range of devices including several iPhone, iPad and MacBook models. CPC was also looking for damages and coverage of its legal bill by Apple.
Apple’s victory in this case was quite comprehensive with the judge saying “I have concluded that CPC has failed to establish that any of the Apple devices fall within the asserted claims and that accordingly its infringement case must be dismissed.”
Charter Pacific says it’s a “diversified investment company with a focus on the global commercialisation of Australian Biometric technology”. It sought damages over patents relating to a “remote entry system” the company acquired in 2019.
During the case, Apple was compelled to hand over some source code to CPC. As a result, the full judgement won’t be made public until both parties have had tome to redact any confidential information.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.