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Apple and HTC Settle Patent Dispute

Posted by samzenpus on from the come-together dept.

An anonymous reader writes "HTC and Apple have reached a global settlement that includes the dismissal of all current lawsuits and a ten-year license agreement. The license extends to current and future patents held by both parties. The terms of the settlement are confidential. From the article: '"HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation," Peter Chou, HTC's chief executive, said in a statement. Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, also expressed relief in a statement. "We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation," he said.'"

2 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Coincidence? by punit_r · · Score: 5, Informative

    Could it be that HTC have started performing badly as a company, so Apple don't consider them worth the lawyer fees any more?

    That and a few more. I imagine it to be a mixture of several factors:

    1. HTC successfully managed to transfer cases to a venue away from Californian courts

    2. ITC found only one of the four / five Apple's patents to be valid and infringed by HTC devices (one related to data-tapping, i.e., detecting links, phone number etc within emails and texts)

    3. HTC won a case in Europe on similar patents, where most of Apple's patents were deemed invalid. Only one was deemed valid, and HTC was found not to infringe that.
    http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57466424-94/u.k-judge-htc-phones-do-not-infringe-apple-patents/

    4. Judges in Delaware found that few of HTC standard essential patents to be likely valid and possibly infringed by Apple and HTC exploring seeking an injunction against iPhone 5 and new iPads using these patents.
    http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57509251-37/u.s-judge-htc-patents-likely-valid-in-apple-suit/

    So, Apple saw a possibility of loosing the case.

    It is still significant development coming from Apple. They have repeatedly held that they are not in the business of licensing "product differentiating features". Only known licensing deal is with Microsoft and Nokia. HTC is the first company which also manufactures Android phones to have reached a settlement with Apple.

  2. Re:Coincidence? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    So, Apple saw a possibility of loosing the case.

    Does nobody around here know how to spell LOSE? I hate being a spelling and grammar nazi, but seriously, what the fuck?!

    loose

    Adjective: Not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached: "a loose tooth".
    Synonyms: adjective. lax - slack - free

    Verb: Set free; release: "the hounds have been loosed".
    Synonyms: release - loosen - untie - unfasten - unbind - undo

    lose

    Verb: 1. Be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something): "I've lost my appetite". 2. Cause (someone) to fail to gain or retain (something): "you lost me my appointment at the university".
    Synonyms: miss - waste