BASF sues Apple in US, says iPhones infringe face authentication patents

In a patent dispute, the chemical conglomerate BASF has filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging infringement of patents concerning the company's facial recognition technology. The legal action was filed on Thursday in a US district court in Midland, Texas. BASF is seeking damages and an injunction. Apple has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

According to the complaint, BASF's subsidiary, trinamiX, developed technology over the past decade to address a security loophole in conventional facial recognition systems. These systems were susceptible to spoofing attempts, where fraudsters could bypass facial scanning using photos, 3D-printed masks, and silicone doppelgängers.

Apple failed to incorporate BASF's patented technology when it introduced Face ID in the iPhone X in 2017. However, the company now uses the technology in numerous products, including the iPhone 15, 16, and 17, as well as the iPad Pro. Apple must have known or should have known that its actions would infringe on trinamiX's seven patents, causing "substantial and irreparable harm."