It looks like it could be a chilly winter for HTC, as its smartphones and tablet devices look likely to be banned from sale in Germany.
The ban could come as a result of HTC losing out on a patent lawsuit and sales injunction request from a company called IPCom, which started back in 2009.
Following the lawsuit, IPCom issued the following statement: “IPCom now intends to execute this injunction in the shortest possible time.”
IPCom’s MD, Bernhard Frohwitter, added, “Apparently, HTC has accepted it had no realistic chance of winning this case – the courts have clearly established that HTC has been infringing our patents and now given us the means to put a stop to it.
“Since HTC has never to come up with an offer that adequately reflects the value of these patents, IPCom has been left with no choice – we will use the right awarded by the courts, likely resulting in HTC devices disappearing from shops during the crucial Christmas season.”
HTC seems to have cottoned on early to the downhill track this case was beginning to take, and have recently slashed sales estimates for the fourth and final quarter of 2011. This has resulted in the price of shares for the Taiwanese phone manufacturer plummeting – seeing the a significant slump in the company’s recent successes.
HTC’s Chief Financial Officier Winston Yung is still feeling positive about the company going forward. Speaking to Reuters, Yung said that HTC would not ‘do a Nokia’: “I don’t think it’s so serious… We will focus on the product next year, better and more competitive. We will launch some worldwide flagship products. We’re confident in them.”
Patent wars are something that until recently did not get a lot of media coverage, but with the major case between Apple and Samsung, it seems like every one wants to see what they can get from patents they have locked away.
Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.