The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a case that pits Apple against a software maker that makes its products and services available through the Google Play app store.
The justices will consider whether Google should be required to pay royalties for its use of Apple’s intellectual property.
The court heard oral arguments for Apple and Google in a patent infringement case brought by the company.
The case centers on Google’s Android operating system, which Apple uses to distribute its own apps.
The U.N. agency said in 2015 that Android is the third most popular mobile operating system worldwide.
Google’s lawyers have argued that Android and Google Play are essentially the same thing, but that Apple is using a different software platform to distribute Android applications and that the U.K. should not have to pay Google royalties for such use.
Google has asked the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that it is a patent monopoly and should not be required by U.J. law to pay.
The Supreme Court will decide whether Apple’s and Google’s rights over intellectual property should be protected by U
