HTC Patents Challenged by Apple Probably Valid, Judge Say
Source: Bloomberg News
Apple Inc. (AAPL) may face a difficult task invalidating two HTC Corp. (2498) patents for data transmission in wireless devices, a U.S. trade judge said at a trial that could lead to import bans on the newest iPad and next version of the iPhone.
Clear and convincing means something to me, U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Thomas Pender said yesterday in Washington, referring to the legal standard in determining that a patent shouldnt have been issued. I have to be pretty darn certain a U.S. patent is invalid.
HTC accuses Apple of infringing two patents it owns for ways to reliably transmit a larger amount of data. Taoyuan, Taiwan-based HTC said the patented methods are critical to the 4G technology known as LTE, or long-term evolution, that allow faster downloads.
A victory could let HTC seek an import ban of the latest iPad and even the newest iPhone, if it uses LTE when its unveiled as early as next week. That could give the Taiwanese handset maker leverage to force a settlement with Apple, which has made its own patent-infringement claims against HTC.
Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-06/htc-patents-challenged-by-apple-probably-valid-judge-say.html
HTC Sues Apple Using Google Patents Bought Last Week as Battle Escalates.
HTC Corp. (2498), Asias second-biggest smartphone maker, is using nine patents bought from Google Inc. (GOOG) last week to pursue new infringement claims against Apple Inc.
Google had taken ownership of the patents less than a year ago, with four of the patents originating from Motorola Inc., three from Openwave Systems Inc. and two from Palm Inc., according to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records. Jim Prosser, a spokesman for Mountain View, California-based Google, wouldnt discuss reasons for the nine transfers to HTC.
HTC now has more ammunition in its fight to fend off multiple patent-infringement claims lodged by Apple that contend phones running Googles Android operating system copy the iPhone. Googles involvement in aiding HTC represents a new front in an industrywide dispute over smartphone technology that has also ensnared Android customers Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc., Barnes & Noble Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.
Thats a bit of a game-changer, said Will Stofega, a technology analyst at Framingham, Massachusetts-based IDC. Google was interested in protecting its licensees with Android. It shows they need to support their customers in order to make sure the customers stick with them.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-07/htc-sues-apple-alleging-infringement-of-four-u-s-patents.html
onehandle
(51,122 posts)...and continue to make billions and billions and billions.
Apple is expected to sell 10 million iPhone 5s next week. Two of them in my household alone.
And then there is the iPad Mini...
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)meanwhile the consumer gets screwed....
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)I was amazed to find that because Samsung mirror Apple's pricing the the result is they NET more than 30% profit. I'm guessing the same applies to the other Android Boys. Apple's product may have a degree of sophistication beyond what the average consumer needs and if so it leaves the Boys plenty of room to slaughter them on price. If that does happen then consumers will benefit.
Richard - proud owner of 2 Galaxy S2's , a Galaxy 10.1 Tablet and from a few days back a Galaxy Note too.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)I wish I'd managed to patent beveled rectangles..
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Just make a side one degree off vertical. Repeat for two degrees off vertical............just don't try on in an English Court. Apple tried and failed with their own patent and the judge thought they were daft in the head.
I'm reminded of when some here tried to patent some dance steps here and got laughed at somewhat.