HTC Files Complaint Against Apple for Patent Infringement

[MacRumors]

HTC Corporation today filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) to halt the importation and sale of the iPhone, iPad and iPod in the United States. HTC claims five HTC patents are being infringed on by Apple.

"We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners, and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones."

The move is in response to a lawsuit filed by Apple against HTC in March. Apple claims that HTC is infringing on 20 Apple patents related to iPhone technology.

HTC is a prominent supplier of Android phones. The original lawsuit was seen as a move directly against Google's Android operating system by Apple. Apple is also currently involved in lawsuits with Nokia over iPhone technologies.

Article Link: HTC Counter-Sues Apple for Patent Infringement

 

[ipedro]

Really? Why can't they just all get along? The only winners here are the lawyers.

 

[badapple18]

Apple started it....

 

[vant]

I hate how lawyers are becoming a very important aspect of technology companies.

 

[RalfTheDog]

HTC can go sniff a cat. A rather smelly cat that does not know how to use the litter box.

 

[kiljoy616]

I hate how lawyers are becoming a very important aspect of technology companies.

They are the new Priest Hood.

 

[Consultant]

In other words, HTC copies Apple's response to Nokia.

Good to see that HTC is soooo original.

 

[teiresias]

HTC can go sniff a cat. A rather smelly cat that does not know how to use the litter box.

I hope you said the same when Apple filed their complaint about HTC.

 

[alent1234]

In other words, HTC copies Apple's response to Nokia.

Good to see that HTC is soooo original.

what should HTC do? roll over?

 

[Jaro65]

This seems to pretty much be a standard procedure these days, right? You sue me, and I counter-sue you in order to gain some leverage.

 

[ShiftyPig]

In before 10 pages of "Apple can sue anyone but nobody can sue Apple."

 

[ChazUK]

As a user of both companies products, I hope this all ends with butterflies and happiness.

 

[holmstockd]

In other words, HTC copies Apple's response to Nokia.

Good to see that HTC is soooo original.

as mentioned eariler - Apple started it - and its not HTC - its the lawyers saying - HEY guys want to sue them back? lets fight back come on guys! fight back (and PAY US MORE THEN JUST DEFENDING YOU) but that last part is ignored or not out right stated.

 

[RalfTheDog]

I hope you said the same when Apple filed their complaint about HTC.

Yes I did, here is my exact quote.

HTC can go sniff a cat. A rather smelly cat that does not know how to use the litter box.

 

[RalfTheDog]

what should HTC do? roll over?

That would be quite nice.

 

[ogo]

Need to buy popcorn. This will be very interesting.

Apple suing half of industry and then three quarters of industry suing them back in return or as a "preemptive strike".

 

[GSMiller]

Really? Why can't they just all get along? The only winners here are the lawyers.

Because if they did, two-thirds of the lawyers in this country would be out of a job.

 

[Robbadore64]

Am I the only one getting sick of these constant patent complaints? Every other day it seems we see something like this.

Somebody wake me up when the International Trade Commission actually halts the importation and sale of something....now THAT would be interesting.

And save the flaming, if someone IS stealing from someone else then they should get the smack laid down upon them; I'm just sick of the back and forth finger-pointing.

 

[RalfTheDog]

Because if they did, two-thirds of the lawyers in this country would be out of a job.

Slander! I will sue! I will Sue!

 

[teiresias]

Yes I did, here is my exact quote.

Ah, so Apple does no wrong, I see that's how you think. Typical.

 

[Powerbooky]

I wonder if something called sosumi will appear in the new iPhone OS.

 

[booandfarley]

I'm sick of hearing about Apple being sued... its a huge corporation.. .they get sued... all the time. Its not very interesting.

 

[MacFanUK]

Well if they succeed in getting the Apple products halted, surely htc products should also be halted until their differences are sorted.

 

[mcmlxix]

We desperately need copyright and patent reform in the US, but unfortunately Congress has a record of turning reform into a patronage cash cow that reforms nothing. It might be better to keep mum.

 

[chrisdpratt]

What exactly are the patents in dispute?

I'd be interested to see the exact patents that HTC is claiming Apple has infringed on. From a high-level view, patent disputes such as these are pointless for the simple fact that there's only so many ways to build a phone. Certain commonalities would inevitably exist even if development was done in a complete vacuum.

That said, Apple was the first one to the table on this one, and every other manufacturer has been playing catchup (PC for "copying") since. I'd be hard-pressed to believe HTC did something truly original that Apple then intentionally and directly copied from an HTC offering.