Apple vs. Google: HTC Sued for 20 Smartphone Patent Infringements
In accordance with the litigious precedent set by the patent suit recently brought against Apple by smart phone O.G. Nokia, the Cupertino intellectual property powerhouse has slapped rival manufacturer HTC with a crippling array of infringement claims. HTC has become the OEM hardware arm of Google's Android mobile platform, designing and producing a variety of devices designed specifically to dethrone the dominant iPhone. Apple's lawyers have requested a permanent injunction barring the sale of all infringing phones (mostly Android touch-based handsets), in addition to damages with interest.
These 20 claims (along with the 13 cited in Apple's countersuit against Nokia) paint the litigation in an over-zealous light, but closer inspection of the patents themselves reveals a questionable spectrum from nit-picky to vague. While the value of duly appointed patents such as that for a capacitive multi-touch display is quite clear, claims such as that for an "Object-Oriented Graphic System" seem esoteric, to say the least. Unfortunately the IP in the HTC case is strictly of the latter, where gesture-based unlock images are valid claims but touch screen technology is taboo? Policing such patents is not particularly effective in inspiring competition, yet it is definitely within the rights of the holder; perhaps these additional design constraints will force innovation on the part of the alleged infringers.
Photos
- 6 months ago
- • 0 comments (Add)
- • Share
