CalTech Grilled at Federal Circuit Over $1.1 Billion Patent Win (1)

Two judges on a Federal Circuit panel appeared skeptical at oral argument of the California Institute of Technology’s billion-dollar patent infringement verdict, one of the largest in U.S. history, against Apple Inc. and Broadcom Inc.

Judge Timothy Dyk questioned that Apple and Broadcom infringed CalTech patents on WiFi technology, and whether a district court was correct to block the companies from making certain invalidity arguments. Dyk and Judge Alan Lourie also focused on whether CalTech’s royalty rates were reasonable.

“These royalty rates do not seem reasonable, they don’t seem rational,” Lourie said.

Apple and Broadcom are appealing a verdict from ...