Wisconsin jury says Apple owes $234 million in patent case

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A jury has awarded the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation more than $234 million in a patent infringement lawsuit against computer maker Apple Inc.

The jury set the amount after about three hours of deliberations Friday. The Wisconsin State Journal reports it was about $165 million less than WARF had sought, but WARF's legal team was all smiles and handshakes after the verdict was read.

The patent dispute involved chip technology that was co-invented by University of Wisconsin-Madison computer sciences professor Gurindar Sohi, who was in the courtroom for the decision. U.S. District Judge William Conley told Sohi he hoped he felt his work was vindicated. The technology improves the speed and efficiency of processors that run iPhones and iPads.

Apple spokeswoman Rachel Tulley says the company plans to appeal.