Apple faces $625 million fines over patents: report

Apple has decided to challenge a legal decision that could see it pay up to 625.5 million dollars in fines for infringing several patents, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The firm's decision came after a federal jury in Tyler, Texas found Apple had infringed on three patents belonging to a company called Mirror Worlds in products including its iPod, iPhone and Macintosh computers.

The jury awarded Mirror Worlds 208.5 million dollars in damages for each patent infringement, but the verdict has not been formally entered by the judge overseeing the case.

Apple filed an emergency motion on Sunday seeking to stall the process, the Times reported.

Apple is arguing that it would be wrong for the jury to force it to pay three separate fines for the infringements, which are related in part to the way files are displayed on the company's popular tech devices.

If the fines stand, Apple faces a payment that would be one of the largest patent awards in US history, the newspaper said. Apple declined to comment.

(c) 2010 AFP