Apple is fighting a UK court order requiring it to pay Optis $502 million for alleged LTE patent infringement, with the case now before the Supreme Court. The dispute began in February 2019 when Optis claimed Apple violated its wireless technology patents across iPhone and Apple Watch devices.

The UK battle has dragged on longer than its US counterpart. While Apple won the American case in February 2026, avoiding $300 million in damages, the British courts have been less favorable. A 2022 High Court decision found Apple infringed two standard essential patents, though the company argued they weren't essential.

Apple initially faced a $56 million judgment, but Optis successfully appealed. The Court of Appeal then calculated damages using Google's licensing deal as reference, arriving at the $502 million figure. Optis had originally sought $7 billion in damages before settling for the lower amount.

The Supreme Court's decision will determine whether Apple must pay this substantial sum for global patent licensing covering 2013 through 2027. The outcome could set precedent for how UK courts handle international patent disputes and licensing valuations.