Josh OngReuters reported the commission's announcement, noting that the complaint has become a "proxy" for Apple's larger intellectual property spat with Google's Android operating system. ITC's decision to review just one of the patents in question can be seen as favorable news for Apple, since it puts to rest its competitor's claims on the other three patents.
When contacted for comment, an Apple spokeswoman simply echoed the company's earlier statement, saying "competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."
A judge for the commission had ruled in October that Apple was not guilty of infringing HTC's four patents, which relate to power management and phone dialing. HTC's original complaint was filed against the iPhone, iPad and iPod product lines in May 2010 as a counter to Apple's lawsuit against the handset maker.
According to late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' biography, he took a personal interest in Apple's case against HTC last year because the Taiwanese handset maker had released a device that he felt stole his company's inventions. Jobs subsequently vowed to "destroy Android" and go "thermonuclear war" over the issue.
Friday's news comes as the final ruling on Apple's case against HTC is set to arrive next Monday. The decision was originally scheduled for this Wednesday, but it was pushed back for unspecified reasons. A judge ruled in July that HTC had infringed two of Apple's patents.
Both companies have several other outstanding complaints lodged against the other with the ITC. Apple filed another suit against HTC in July. In September, HTC filed its third lawsuit against Apple with the commission, this time using patents it had acquired from Google.
For its part, HTC has said it views Apple's complaints against it as little more than a "distraction." Chief Executive Peter Chou has remained optimistic that the suit will not affect HTC's business.
Executives at the company have also indicated interest in settling its dispute with Apple. Industry watchers believe that HTC's $300 million purchase of S3 Graphics earlier this year was an attempt by the company to gain leverage on Apple.
S3 Graphics had sued Apple over patents related to image compression, winning aninitial ITC ruling against Apple in July. But, the decision was overturned by the commission in November. HTC responded to the news by noting that it would conduct a "holistic re-evaluation" of its acquisition in light of the reversal.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Oliver Haslam
41 Comments
Herein lies the big problem for every one of these "IP theft" cases. A single, perhaps even vague and unknown, patent claim can result in an entire line of devices being banned from the market. None of these guys are willing to simply settle anymore, licence the tech as they traditionally have. They all are out for blood, demanding injunctions for the most minor infringement claims. With that refusal to settle, a single validated claim can see a companies fortunes turned upside-down, with perhaps no intent to have infringed on their part to begin with.
Herein lies the big problem for every one of these "IP theft" cases. A single, perhaps even vague and unknown, patent claim can result in an entire line of devices being banned from the market. None of these guys are willing to simply settle anymore, licence the tech as they traditionally have. They all are out for blood, demanding injunctions for the most minor infringement claims. With that refusal to settle, a single validated claim can see a companies fortunes turned upside-down, with perhaps no intent to have infringed on their part to begin with.
The old world doesn't exist anymore. Now if you create a new technology but somewhere deep inside it has some code or function that someone drew on a napkin 7 years ago and patented they have the right to shut you down...and likely will if you compete with them.
This is the new world. So much for progress, it's all about profits.
Time for Samsung and other Android vendors to start running...
You all used a product that violated patents. You knew it and therefore payed protection money to Microsoft (5-15 dollar per Android device).
That didn't help you.
And know Google owns Motorola mobile, who also violates these patents. This will be the biggest lawsuit and settlement in history.
It is not to much to ask: Invent something own. If PALM can do it, Google and other companies can do it. But Google is the internet generation. Just pirate everything...
The old world doesn't exist anymore. Now if you create a new technology but somewhere deep inside it has some code or function that someone drew on a napkin 7 years ago and patented they have the right to shut you down...and likely will if you compete with them.
This is the new world. So much for progress, it's all about profits.
This is what is different about Apple.
Apple is about creating the greatest product ever, then make profit.
All other companies is the other way. How do we most profit? What product fits in.
BTW: You Google tag is just silly. Google did not invent Android, they bought it. Any idiot in the world with money could do the same thing. They blatantly clones iOS because they have never had an own idea in history. Not a single software o product. That is just fact.
To admire a company that never invents anything, that data mines its customers, that have been guilty of illegal activities from modifying Linux code, illegal drugs ads, abusing its dominating position in market, that sniffed open Wifi hotspots and refuses to delete the data that they sniffed. That is strange. I guess its because of lack of IT knowledge. Bookmark this page and come back when you are 35 years+ and you will understand the world better.
This is what is different about Apple.
Apple is about creating the greatest product ever, then make profit.
All other companies is the other way. How do we most profit? What product fits in.
BTW: You Google tag is just silly. Google did not invent Android, they bought it. Any idiot in the world with money could do the same thing. They blatantly clones iOS because they have never had an own idea in history. Not a single software o product. That is just fact.
To admire a company that never invents anything, that data mines its customers, that have been guilty of illegal activities from modifying Linux code, illegal drugs ads, abusing its dominating position in market, that sniffed open Wifi hotspots and refuses to delete the data that they sniffed. That is strange. I guess its because of lack of IT knowledge. Bookmark this page and come back when you are 35 years+ and you will understand the world better.
So the Android they bought is the Android that exists? no? They've actually been modifying it significantly? Oh okay then...So I guess Siri is just what Apple bought...no? it isn't? Damn...so companies CAN buy and modify something to make it better huh? Crazy.
Also what has Apple invented? BIIIIGGG difference between invent and innovate.
Also can I get a point by point list of what you feel Android...that is STOCK Android...Google's Android...clones blatantly from iOS? I'll be waiting.
The two OSes are so different it's sad that there is even a real debate...just like MacOSX and Ubuntu are different...they have similarities, sure, but they are damn near night and day if you get beyond the "they have icons.........."
http://devour.com/video/everything-is-a-remix-part-3/
Everything is a remix...that's how it always was...from clothing, to language, to slang, to games, to cars, to computers, to operating systems...etc.
NOTHING exists in a void...nothing.
Not even Apple.