Apple iPhones. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – An Israeli start-up, Corephotonics, has filed a lawsuit in California arguing that Apple copied its patented smartphone camera technology.

Tel Aviv-based Corephotonics, which has raised more than $50 million from venture capital firms, says that its dual camera technology for smartphones was incorporated into Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 without its authorization.

The lawsuit states that Corephotonics CEO Dr. David Mendlovic had approached Apple about a partnership, but after praising the technology, Apple refused to license it.

“Apple’s lead negotiator expressed contempt for Corephotonics’ patents, telling Dr. Mendlovic and others that even if Apple infringed, it would take years and millions of dollars in litigation before Apple might have to pay something,” the lawsuit says.

According to Reuters, an Apple spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.