Chinese Artificial Intelligence Firm Sues Apple for $1.4 Billion Over Siri

August 3, 2020

Chinese artificial intelligence company Shanghai Zhizhen Intelligent Network Technology Co. Ltd,. also known as Xiao-i, has filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc, alleging it has infringed on its patents.

The company is calling for 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in damages and demands that Apple cease “manufacturing, using, promising to sell, selling, and importing” products that infringe on the patent, it said in a social media post.

In the lawsuit filed in a local Chinese court, Xiao-i argued that Apple’s voice-recognition technology Siri infringes on a patent that it applied for in 2004 and was granted in 2009.

In a statement, Apple said that its Siri does not contain features included in the Xiao-i patent, which the iPhone maker argues relates to games and instant messaging. The company also said that independent appraisers certified by the Supreme People’s Court have concluded that Apple does not infringe Xiao-i Robot’s technology.

“We are disappointed Xiao-i Robot has filed another lawsuit,” Apple said in a statement. “We look forward to presenting the facts to the court and we will continue to focus on delivering the best products and services in the world to our customers.”

Reuters was not immediately available to find a copy of the court filing.

The lawsuit marks the continuation of a row that has been ongoing for nearly a decade.

Shanghai Zhizhen first sued Apple for patent infringement in 2012 regarding its voice-recognition technology. In July, China’s Supreme People’s court ruled that the patent was valid.

(Reporting by Josh Horwitz in Shanghai and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; editing by Louise Heavens and Lisa Shumaker)

Topics Lawsuits InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence China

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Latest Comments

  • August 3, 2020 at 8:29 pm
    Andrew G. Simpson says:
    Let me give you a hint. You are wrong if you think a firm is happy to let the media know when it has been a sued, especially if it has not even seen the complaint itself. The ... read more
  • August 3, 2020 at 6:12 pm
    Craig Winston Cornell says:
    Oh, c'mon, Andrew. We will give you a pass if you make a mistake now and again if you will just admit it. You want us to believe the reporter "didn't know" where the suit was ... read more
  • August 3, 2020 at 3:32 pm
    Andrew G. Simpson says:
    Craig The lawsuit was filed in a local Chinese court, as the article now states. Professional reporters "write this stuff" and they publish what they can find out, which is no... read more

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