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Apple Loses Bid For Emergency Ban On HTC Phone Imports

Posted by Unknown on from the itc-being-sane-you-don't-say dept.

New submitter tukang writes "The US International Trade Commission has rejected an emergency request by Apple to detain some HTC phones (including the One X and EVO 4G) at the border while the agency investigates Apple's claims of patent infringement. In May, HTC's phone shipment was held up at the border and was only allowed to pass after U.S. Customs and Border Protection received assurances that HTC worked around Apple patents, a claim which Apple disputes."

12 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Only a little evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple isn't behaving well but they still have a long way to go to reach Microsoft levels of evil.

    I mean, MS included a BROWSER in their OS. ...and they didn't even give you a way to uninstall it! Now THAT is pure evil.

    1. Re:Only a little evil by pnot · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I mean, MS included a BROWSER in their OS. ...and they didn't even give you a way to uninstall it! Now THAT is pure evil.

      Absolutely! Good thing I can uninstall Safari from my Mac, easy as -- wait, what's this?

      ”Safari.app” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by Mac OS X.

      The article does mention that you can rm -rf it from the command line, but cautions that this "could result in abnormal system behavior or improper functionality".

    2. Re:Only a little evil by Dynetrekk · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yeah, well, Microsoft lets you do things with your computer that are UNSAFE, like install software NOT APPROVED by them.

      I've got mod points, but I'll rather point out that on my mac I often compile and install software that has never been approved by anyone. Mac OS X is unix, so ./configure; make works rather often. I'm not a "fanboi" but I'm not too impressed by claims not supported by facts, either.

    3. Re:Only a little evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yes, but if you buy one of Apple's pocket-sized computers you need to constantly fight with the manufacturer to install any Unapproved Software on it.

    4. Re:Only a little evil by walshy007 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Give it time, while apple's future is hard to predict the general trend seems to be going to more lock down the better, hell with the next os x having developer signing they are paving the way for the future lock down. All they'd have to do is change a setting to refuse to run things not signed by them and the transformation would be complete.

  2. When will it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "The patent covers a system to detect telephone numbers in e-mails so, when the number on the screen is tapped, they can be stored in directories or called without dialing."

  3. And this is why Apple sucks... by Xenx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can understand legitimate complaints about patent infringement. I can even almost understand some of the complaints Apple puts forth against Android devices. While I don't necessarily feel they should be winning the cases, I feel that they're at least operating within the system. My issue is with situations like this, where they're pressing for bans when the situation isn't even decided yet. They're just pressing to hurt the competitors as much as possible without actually having to prove foul play.

    1. Re:And this is why Apple sucks... by gnasher719 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can understand legitimate complaints about patent infringement. I can even almost understand some of the complaints Apple puts forth against Android devices. While I don't necessarily feel they should be winning the cases, I feel that they're at least operating within the system. My issue is with situations like this, where they're pressing for bans when the situation isn't even decided yet. They're just pressing to hurt the competitors as much as possible without actually having to prove foul play.

      Pressing for bans is what everybody else does as well. Like Samsung, HTC, Motorola.

      I steal your car. Should I be allowed to drive it until I am convicted in a court? That would obviously be unfair towards you. But for example in the Apple vs. Samsung case, Apple got an injunction but if they lost the case in the end, they would have to pay damages. And they had to pay a bond so that it is guaranteed that the money for paying damages is there if needed.

  4. New Business Opportunity for Mexican Drung Gangs by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Smuggling phones!

    It will be like Prohibition, revisited. Rich folks will have the best phones at parties, like they used to have the best booze during Prohibition.

    Will Elliot Ness triumph over Al Capone this time . . . ?

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  5. Antitrust Anyone by zippo01 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Am I the only one that wonders why no one is screaming antitrust? I guess Apple feels safe having the USPO fight their battles. I can see this ending badly for Apple down the road if they keep it up.

    1. Re:Antitrust Anyone by bky1701 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      There are quite a few Apple dollars bouncing around Washington DC, even more since they became best of friends with the RIAA and MPAA. I wouldn't hold my breath for the government to save us from Apple any time soon.

      --
      Great Intellect...
  6. 1984 by LodCrappo · · Score: 5, Funny

    When Apple famously claimed that "1984 won't be like '1984'", everyone assumed it was because they didn't want an Orwellian situation in the computer industry.
    As it turns out, Apple is totally into the idea. They just hadn't perfected the technology back then.

    --
    -Lod