Apple Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Theft of Mobile Wallet Technology
By TOI Tech Desk | August 8, 2025
Apple Inc., the global technology giant, is currently embroiled in a legal battle following allegations of misappropriating mobile payment technology originally developed by a company called CorFire. The lawsuit, filed by Texas-based firm Fintiv, claims that Apple engaged in corporate theft and racketeering by leveraging confidential information to create and launch its widely used Apple Pay platform.
Background of the Lawsuit
The complaint was officially filed in a federal court in Atlanta and became public on August 7, 2025. According to the legal documents, Fintiv acquired CorFire in 2014, a company that had developed pioneering mobile wallet technology years earlier. Fintiv asserts that Apple engaged with CorFire in 2011 and 2012 through a series of meetings and signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the intent of licensing CorFire’s technology for its own use.
However, instead of formalizing any licensing agreement, Apple allegedly hired several CorFire employees and used CorFire’s confidential technology to develop and roll out Apple Pay in 2014. This service was launched on various Apple devices including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook, both in the United States and internationally.
Claims of Corporate Theft and Racketeering
The suit goes beyond mere theft allegations, accusing Apple of orchestrating an informal racketeering scheme through Apple Pay. Fintiv alleges that Apple funneled transaction fees through the platform to major financial institutions such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup, as well as to payment networks including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Fintiv’s legal team described Apple’s conduct as “corporate theft and racketeering of monumental proportions,” emphasizing the massive financial gains Apple has secured from Apple Pay without providing any compensation to Fintiv.
Legal Action and Damages Sought
Fintiv is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages under multiple legal statutes. These include federal and Georgia-specific trade secret laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a federal anti-racketeering statute often used to target organized crime activities. Apple is named as the sole defendant in the lawsuit.
Context and Recent Legal Challenges for Apple
This lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal and shareholder challenges facing Apple. In June 2025, Apple shareholders initiated a separate securities fraud class action lawsuit accusing the company of misleading investors about the timeline for integrating advanced artificial intelligence features into its Siri voice assistant. The shareholders claimed this lack of transparency negatively affected iPhone sales and, subsequently, Apple’s stock performance.
As Apple continues to innovate and expand in several technology sectors, these lawsuits highlight the increasingly complex legal environment surrounding intellectual property and corporate governance in the tech industry.
About the TOI Tech Desk
The TOI Tech Desk is a team of dedicated journalists providing timely and accurate coverage of the latest developments in technology. Covering everything from gadgets and AI advancements to cybersecurity and major tech litigation, they bring readers in-depth and trustworthy reports on the evolving digital landscape.
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