Fintiv sues Apple for allegedly stealing technology behind Apple Pay

Texas-based payment solutions provider Fintiv has accused Apple of stealing its technology to develop Apple Pay.

According to Fintiv, Apple used proprietary tech developed by CorFire — a company Fintiv acquired in 2014 — to build key features of its payment system.

The company claims Apple held multiple meetings and signed a non-disclosure agreement with CorFire. Later, Apple allegedly poached CorFire employees and leveraged the company’s trade secrets to launch Apple Pay.

"Apple's theft of Fintiv's technology is part of a pattern and practice that Apple has engaged in for years – falsely pretending to partner with companies in order to steal confidential and proprietary information under the guise of a working relationship, and thereafter hiring away key employees, all in order to steal the company's valuable intellectual property and use it to commercialize the business on its own," the lawsuit states.

Fintiv’s attorney described Apple’s behavior as "one of the most egregious examples of corporate malfeasance" he’s seen in 45 years of legal practice. The lawsuit seeks damages and penalties for violations of trade secret laws and anti-racketeering regulations (Fintiv also accuses Apple of extortion by charging U.S. banks high fees — Ed.).

Fintiv and Apple have been in legal disputes since 2018, when Fintiv initially sued for patent infringement. That case was dismissed but later reinstated by an appeals court for further proceedings.