Boy, is it getting hot in here or what? As if the patent infringement battle wasn't heated enough between Apple and HTC, HTC has decided to countersue Apple.
HTC is now claiming that Apple is infringing on five of its patents and is asking the US International Trade Commission to halt “importation and sale of the iPhone, iPad and iPod in the United States.” Originally, Apple sued HTC for allegedly infringing on over twenty of Apple's patents with its Android operating system by Google. The hit was interpreted as a shot below the belt by Apple at its bigger competition, Google. Rather than facing the giant face-to-face, they decided to take on the weaker partners of the giant that is Google.
HTC is the manufacturer of some of the markets more popular phones and highly anticipated phones that have yet to hit the market like the EVO 4G, the Nexus One, and the Droid Incredible. This would also put them in direct line of fire with Apple considering their hardware and Google's operating system makes for a large part of the competition for their iPhone. Not to mention, they can't be too happy about Android knocking them to third in the US mobile platform market share. Apple may have bitten off more than they can chew considering Google has said they will “stand behind” their partners. So, grab some popcorn people and find a seat, this is playing out to be a very engaging war between some mobile industry behemoths. The full press release can be found below.
Via TechCrunch
Press release:
HTC SUES APPLE FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
Complaint outlines five HTC patents infringed by Apple products
Seattle – May 12, 2010 – HTC Corporation today took legal action against Apple Inc., filing 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.
“As the innovator of the original Windows Mobile PocketPC Phone Edition in 2002 and the first Android smartphone in 2008, HTC believes the industry should be driven by healthy competition and innovation that offer consumers the best, most accessible mobile experiences possible,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of North America, HTC Corporation. “We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners, and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones.”
HTC’s commitment to innovation has continued for more than a decade as it has focused on building a portfolio of the world’s most advanced smartphones that are inspired by consumers and provide them with a variety of choices in software, design, form-factor, price and wireless carrier. Today, consumers in the United States can choose between 12 HTC smartphones with the national wireless carriers. HTC has continuously strived to bring innovative smartphone choices to consumers, like the recently unveiled HTC EVO 4G with Sprint, DROID Incredible by HTC with Verizon Wireless and the HTC HD2 with T-Mobile. For more information on HTC’s long-standing commitment to consumers innovation and choice go to: www.htc.com/quietlybrilliant
About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
