AT&T and Nokia Overturn a $166M Patent Verdict

Big jury awards make headlines, but this case shows how appeals can completely flip the script. Here’s what went wrong — and what businesses should learn from it.

In 2023, a Texas jury hit AT&T and Nokia with $166 million in damages after Finesse Wireless claimed their 4G/5G networks infringed patents tied to reducing signal interference. This week, the Federal Circuit threw that out, ruling the evidence just didn’t hold up. It’s a reminder that in patent disputes, a dramatic trial win isn’t always the end of the story.

The appeals court zeroed in on Finesse’s expert testimony, which it found too inconsistent to prove infringement. For one patent, the expert never clearly showed how Nokia’s tech captured the mix of signals the patent required. For another, he pointed to three multiplications where the patent demanded seven — without bridging the gap. The court made it clear: if the technical story isn’t airtight, even a nine-figure jury verdict can vanish.

This decision underscores a bigger truth: IP battles turn on clarity. Whether protecting a breakthrough or defending a product line, companies need evidence and arguments that connect cleanly from claim to courtroom.

Our team helps companies protect their IP with strategies built to stand up in court — and on appeal. Reach out today to safeguard your next big idea!

Text: Brittain, Blake. ‘AT&T, Nokia Convince US Appeals Court to Overturn $166 Mln Patent Verdict’. Reuters, 24 Sep. 2025. Litigation. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/att-nokia-convince-us-appeals-court-overturn-166-mln-patent-verdict-2025-09-24/.

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