Yazılar

Texas Company Sues Apple Over Alleged Theft of Technology Behind Apple Pay

/in /tarafından

Apple (AAPL.O) faces a lawsuit from Texas-based firm Fintiv, accusing the tech giant of stealing trade secrets and technology developed by CorFire, a company Fintiv acquired in 2014, to create Apple Pay. The complaint, filed in Atlanta federal court, alleges that Apple held multiple meetings and nondisclosure agreements with CorFire in 2011 and 2012 intending to license its mobile wallet technology but instead used the information and persuaded CorFire employees to join Apple.

Fintiv claims Apple used this technology to launch Apple Pay in 2014 and profited by generating fees for major credit card issuers and payment networks without compensating Fintiv. The lawsuit accuses Apple of corporate theft and racketeering under federal and Georgia trade secrets and RICO laws, seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

Apple has not commented on the lawsuit. A related patent infringement case by Fintiv against Apple was dismissed earlier this month in Austin, Texas, with Fintiv planning to appeal.

Apple Leads Global Tech Rally After Trump Tariff Exemptions

/in /tarafından

Global technology stocks surged Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his proposed 100% tariffs on chips and semiconductors would largely exempt companies manufacturing in, or committed to manufacturing in, the United States.

Apple shares rose 2%, recovering most of their losses since April’s Liberation Day selloff, after Trump confirmed the company will invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. operations — a move that could shield iPhones from potential tariffs. Semiconductor suppliers and Apple partners, including Applied Materials, Texas Instruments, GlobalFoundries, and Broadcom, gained between 1.3% and 5.5%. Other U.S.-listed chipmakers also rallied, with AMD up 3.1% and Nvidia up 1.4%.

European chipmakers joined the rally, with ASML and ASMI rising more than 3% each and BE Semiconductor Industries up 4.7%. J.P. Morgan analysts noted that the proposed 100% tariff would not stack on top of the 15% baseline tariff agreed between the U.S. and EU last week, which includes zero-for-zero tariffs on semiconductor equipment.

Taiwan’s TSMC, which produces chips for most major U.S. tech firms, saw its shares hit an all-time high after gaining nearly 5%, buoyed by investor confidence in AI demand regardless of tariff risk. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both with significant U.S. investments, rose 2.5% and 1.4%, respectively, after confirmation they would not face the 100% tariff.

However, not all markets benefited. The Philippines, where semiconductors account for 70% of electronics exports, warned the tariffs could be “devastating” and saw its stock market close slightly lower. Malaysia also requested clarity from U.S. trade officials on the tariff scope.

Trump Announces Proposed 100% Tariff on Imported Semiconductors, With Exemptions for U.S.-Based Manufacturers

/in /tarafından

President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a roughly 100% tariff on imported semiconductor chips, aiming to incentivize companies to manufacture in the United States. However, firms that have committed to or are already producing chips on U.S. soil—such as Apple, which pledged an additional $100 billion investment in America—would be exempt from the tariff.

Trump warned that companies making false commitments to build U.S. factories would face retroactive charges if they fail to deliver. His remarks were informal and details on implementation remain unclear, with a formal national security investigation on tariffs expected to conclude by mid-August.

Reactions from the global semiconductor industry and governments varied. South Korea’s trade envoy confirmed that major chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will be exempt under a U.S.-South Korea trade deal. In contrast, officials from the Philippines and Malaysia expressed concern that tariffs would severely harm their industries, risking competitiveness in the U.S. market.

Taiwanese companies, notably TSMC, which have established U.S. manufacturing facilities or partnerships, are expected to avoid significant impact. This benefits key U.S. customers like Nvidia, which plans major investments in American chip production.

Experts note that the tariffs favor large, financially strong firms able to build factories domestically, emphasizing a “survival of the biggest” dynamic. The U.S. government has supported this shift with a $52.7 billion semiconductor subsidy program to boost domestic chip production, which currently accounts for about 12% of global output, down from 40% in 1990.

The European Union has agreed to a 15% tariff on most U.S. exports, including chips, and Japan secured assurances against worse tariffs than other nations on semiconductor products.

Following the announcement, shares of Asian chipmakers with U.S. manufacturing plans rose significantly, reflecting market optimism over tariff exemptions.