Apple Inc. (AAPL) Patent Chief Steps Down [REPORT]

Followed by early reporting by AppleInsider, it came as little surprise today when additional news outlets began reporting that Boris Teksler, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s head of Patent Licensing & Strategy, has left the company after being with the Cupertino outfit for the last four plus years.

Teksler at Apple:

Teksler came to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) after 16 years at Hewlett-Packard, where he co-founded HP’s Intellectual Property Licensing Business. He became one of the faces of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) given his testimony in the patent infringement suits that Apple launched and won against Samsung in recent years.

However his departure could not have come at a worse time for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as it is remains embroiled in a number of separate lawsuits both as a plaintiff and as the company accused of utilizing others’ technology in its devices.

In Teksler’s testimony against Samsung, he told the court that he had warned late Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Tim Cook (who was then the acting COO of Apple) in 2010 that he believed that Samsung’s smartphones were infringing on Apple’s iPhone patents. During his testimony, Teksler put together a presentation that, in his mind, showed that Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) was in clear violation of using Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s patents as it pertained to “rubber-banding,” gesture heuristics, and e-mail threading.

His worries proved serious enough for Steve Jobs and Tim Cook to call on Samsung executives to discuss the matter. Following an inability to reach an agreement, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) felt that its only recourse would come from the courts and consequently filed the lawsuits that left Samsung with a large judgment against them.

“We didn’t understand how a trusted partner would build a copycat product like that,” he said in his testimony.

Mr. Teksler will be leaving Apple to take on the position of president of the Technology Group at French media and entertainment company Technicolor.

Following the report of Teksler’s imminent departure from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) last week by AppleInsider, it was confirmed by a press release by Technicolor on Monday this week.

“Boris Teksler is a skilled executive with a unique combination of skills including protecting intellectual assets and driving focused innovation to commercial success,” said Frederic Rose, Chief Executive Officer at Technicolor. “The Technology Group is tasked with extending our licensing growth and Teksler’s experience in mobile licensing makes him well suited for the position.”

Despite AppleInsider‘s efforts to reach Mr. Teksler, he has yet to comment on his move.