Taiwanese smart phone manufacturer HTC are being sued by apple for 20 iPhone patent infringements.
The infringments pretty much cover everything on the iPhone, user interface, hardware and the underlying architecture. One of the infingments?relates to the way the device in unlocked.
Apple have said that while they feel competition is healthy and encourage it, they draw the line at competitors directly stealing their technology. Competition should created new original technologies.
HTC has since issued a statement: ?HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smart phones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple?s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC.?
The lawsuit has been filed with the U.S. district court in Delaware and the U.S. ITC. Apple wants a permanent injunction put in place that will stop the selling of HTC devices in the US. Pretty heavy stuff, and not a first. In a role reversal, Nokia filled a complaint in December 2009 with the ITC against Apple. Stating that Macs, iphones and iPods violate it’s intellectual property rights. The counter sue by Apple is still ongoing.
