[vosper]

> Apple license fees and royalties, as disclosed in Imagination’s Annual Report, represented revenue of £60.7 million for the year ended 30 April 2016 and are expected to be approximately £65 million for the year ending 30 April 2017

> Imagination believes that it would be extremely challenging to design a brand new GPU architecture from basics without infringing its intellectual property rights.

Well Apple has a ~$75m per year incentive to do just that, so I Imagination better hope they've really got a stranglehold on all the necessary IP.

[laxd]

> Imagination believes that it would be extremely challenging to design a brand new GPU architecture from basics without infringing its intellectual property rights

Can't believe they would try to use this as an argument in their own favour. It's either (yet another) proof that the patent system is broken, or that their patent are as invalid as can be.

[sangnoir]

> It's either (yet another) proof that the patent system is broken, or that their patent are as invalid as can be.

Why did you assume the patents would be invalid? It is possible that they hold patents fundamental to the field so every other GPU make has to (cross-)license the tech. There is also no obligation for FRAND licensing on GPUs, to my knowledge.

[my123]

Apple can build a GPU without infringing ImgTec patents, through a patent agreement with another GPU maker(including ARM, so they're pretty much covered).

[bryanlarsen]

Perhaps not. Existing GPU makers protect themselves through cross-licensing their patents: you can use mine if I can use yours.

However, it sounds like ImgTec is considering going full-on troll, so they won't need access to the other patents any more and can just sit under their bridge extorting tolls.

[pcwalton]

Patent trolls are non-practicing entities. Imagination Technologies is hardly a non-practicing entity.

[bryanlarsen]

Sure, today. But they're "concentrating on the licensing business".

[raverbashing]

And they better not infringe on any Apple IP as well (or IP that was acquired)...