Back on the 8th of August US company Fintiv filed a legal complaint against Apple, alleging that it stole trade secrets from its predecessor, CorFire, to develop Apple Pay.
A US federal judge in Texas has unsealed a ruling that dismantles years of claims against Apple over its Apple Pay and Wallet services.
The decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Alan Albright, reveals that Fintiv suddenly abandoned its case after seven long years due to complete lack of evidence linking Apple’s technology to Fintiv’s patented “widget” for mobile payments.
Fintiv had accused Apple of infringing on patents related to digital wallet ecosystems. Yet, despite extensive discovery, Fintiv failed to produce any proof that Apple Pay incorporated the specific widget technology in question.
This evidentiary shortfall prompted Judge Albright to grant Apple’s motion for summary judgment, effectively clearing the company of infringement allegations in the Western District of Texas.
The ruling not only vindicated Apple’s defense strategy but also highlighted the risks of prolonged litigation without substantive backing.
Georgia Lawsuit
Fintiv has now pivoted to filing a fresh lawsuit in Georgia, alleging trade secret theft and racketeering under the RICO Act.
The complaint accuses Apple of misappropriating Fintiv’s mobile wallet innovations to build Apple Pay, claiming “corporate theft on a staggering scale,”.
However, Judge Albright’s opinion explicitly notes the absence of evidence in the prior case, which could seriously undermine Fintiv’s credibility in Georgia.
Legal experts suggest that Apple’s attorneys will likely leverage this precedent to challenge the validity of the trade secret allegations, pointing out inconsistencies in Fintiv’s narrative.
Fintiv will need to bolster their evidence before filing, lest they face swift dismissals.
