We reported recently that Apple had filed a patent complaint against Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer HTC, alleging they had “borrowed” several ideas from Apple products the iPhone and iPad.
Well, last Friday a judge within the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that HTC’s Android smartphones infringe on two of Apple’s patents used in iPhone and iPad products. The judge’s decision is an initial one which will now be fully reviewed by a six-member commission. If the commission agrees with the judge’s ruling then HTC could be in big trouble, as could other manufacturers of Android smartphones.
The patent claim was filed by Cupertino company Apple last year, with their CEO Steve Jobs quoted as saying “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,”
“We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”
The two patents in question are numbered 5,946,647 and 6,343,263. The first relates to a “system and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data”. The second is a “real-time signal processing system for serially transmitted data”. Both patents appear to be very vague and we’re struggling to see how either relates to HTC products specifically.
As it turns out, both patents mentioned above are core to the Android operating system as a whole, so if Apple were to win this particular case they could have grounds to take on Google in the same manner as it is they who created the Android software. Apple is currently in the process of also pursuing a similar complaint against Motorola and other manufacturers who use the Android OS.
HTC has responded to this news by issuing a statement in which they say the company is “highly confident we have a strong case for the ITC appeals process and are fully prepared to defend ourselves using all means possible”. Unsurprisingly, HTC will be fighting tooth and nail against Apple in this case – the full statement from them can be read below.
[spoiler]Taoyuan, Taiwan–July 16, 2011 – HTC received notice of the ITC judge’s initial determination in the Apple vs. HTC case, ITC No. 337-TA-710. Apple originally asserted 10 of its patents against HTC in March 2010, and the judge ruled today that HTC infringed on 2 patents. HTC does not yet have access to the judge’s full opinion and analysis to determine the details of his findings.
“We are highly confident we have a strong case for the ITC appeals process and are fully prepared to defend ourselves using all means possible,” said Grace Lei, General Counsel of HTC. “We strongly believe we have alternate solutions in place for the issues raised by Apple. We look forward to resolving this case, so we can continue creating the most innovative mobile experiences for consumers.”
The ITC’s Staff Attorney independently studied the facts and argued at trial that HTC does not violate any of the 10 Apple patents.
The ITC has already ruled that Apple is infringing the patents of HTC’s subsidiary S3 Graphics as part of ITC Investigation No. 337-TA-724. HTC announced its acquisition of S3Graphics on July 6, 2011.
HTC is a leading innovator of smartphones that has developed a strong customer brand, unique user experience and differentiated smartphone portfolio.
Founded in 1997 with a passion for innovation and a vision for how smartphones would change people’s lives, HTC has continually driven this vision by consistently introducing award-winning smartphones worldwide. In February 2011, HTC was honored as the handset maker of the year by the GSMA, the mobile industries global trade association. For more information on HTC’s history of innovation, please visit: http://www.htc.com/history.[/spoiler]