Korean startup closer to winning Touch ID patent dispute with Apple
US federal appeals court upholds the validity of two of Firstface's three patents in dispute with Apple
By Sep 17, 2021 (Gmt+09:00)
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South Korea's Firstface Co. has inched a step closer to winning its patent dispute against Apple Inc., after a US federal appeals court ruled in favor of the startup over its Touch ID technologies featured by iPhone 5S and fifth-generation iPad tablets.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) recently upheld the validity of two of the three patents owned by Firstface, rejecting Apple's request to invalidate them, Firstface said on Thursday.
Firstface develops smartphone interface software to enable users to activate mobile devices and boasts about 50 patents in relation to lock screen and advertisement display on Android lock screens in South Korea, US, Europe, China and Japan.
In 2018, the Korean company sued Apple on allegations that the Big Tech firm had infringed its three patented Touch ID technologies which allow users to unlock their smartphone by placing a finger on the home button.
Given that CAFC has nationwide jurisdiction, there is a very low likelihood for Apple to reverse the judgement in the US Supreme Court, the company added.
Summary of Firstface's Patent Dispute with Apple
| When | What | Court |
| April 2018 | Firstface sued Apple over three patent infringement | US Court for the Northern District of California |
| Jan. 2019 | Apple filed an invalidation request of the three patents at issue | US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) |
| July 2020 | USPTO upheld the validity of two of the three patents held by Firstface | USPTO |
| 2020 | Apple appealed the USPTO ruling | US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) |
| Sept. 2021 | CAFC upheld the USPTO decision | CAFC |
| 2021 | Apple is said to appeal the CAFC ruling | US Supreme Court |
Write to Han-gyeol Seon at always@hankyung.com
Yeonhee Kim edited this article.
