TrinamiX, a subsidiary of BASF, says Apple’s current implementation of Face ID is infringing on several of its patents. Here are the details.
trinamiX says Face ID infringes seven patents
As first spotted by Reuters, trinamiX says newer versions of Apple’s Face ID, used in iPhones and iPad Pro models, infringe on seven of its patents.
In the lawsuit, trinamiX describes itself as a BASF spin-off that “has grown from a startup into an operating company that designs, develops, and commercializes advanced sensing technologies, including biometric imaging, three-dimensional vision, and near-infrared spectroscopy solutions for consumer and industrial applications.”
The patents trinamiX alleges Apple is infringing cover technology that can detect human skin during facial authentication, addressing an issue that, according to the lawsuit, allowed researchers to bypass the original version of Face ID using specially constructed 3D masks.
TrinamiX says its technology works by projecting a pattern of light onto a face and analyzing how that light reflects back to determine properties of the surface. Combined with 3D depth information, the company says this can distinguish human skin from materials used in photographs, masks, and other attempts to spoof facial authentication systems.
The seven patents listed in the lawsuit belong to two families:
- Optical skin detection for face unlock (US Patents no. 12,530,925; 12,288,421; 12,456,334; 12,361,760)
- Detector for identifying at least one material property (US Patents no. 12,298,394; 12,332,352; 12,461,238)
The lawsuit lists the following Apple devices among the “Accused Products”:
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- 11-inch iPad Pro (4th generation)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (6th generation)
- 11-inch iPad Pro M4 and M5
- 13-inch iPad Pro M4 and M5
TrinamiX also mentions unspecified “other infringing iPhone and iPad models,” although it is not immediately clear which products it refers to.
After presenting its case, trinamiX asks the court to find that Apple infringed its patents, block Apple from making, using, selling, offering for sale, or importing the accused products, and award the company damages and attorneys’ fees.
The company is requesting a jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
You can read trinamiX’s full complaint below (via IP Fray):
What’s your take on this lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
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