Apple and HTC Settle Patent Dispute

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.'"

Comments

Re:damn, i was hoping HTC would die off

[Anonymous Coward]

Perfect summary of every Android device.

Re:Really?

[whisper_jeff]

Unfortunately, on Slashdot, "patent troll" means "company I don't like using their patents".

Apple and Microsoft often get labeled as patent trolls despite the fact that they invest large (and, by that, I mean ENORMOUS) amounts of resources in R&D and actually create numerous products but now it's cool to dislike them so, patent troll it is.

Samsung, however, who utilizes their FRAND patents in anti-competitive ways are cool so their "victims of patent abuse". It's how things work on Slashdot now.

I mean, really - I knew as soon as I saw the news that Apple and HTC had come to a licensing agreement that, somehow, Slashdot's crowd would find some way to vilify Apple and the majority of the comments in this thread bear that out. They reach a licensing agreement to mutually share their patents (current and future) with another company and somehow they're still perceived as the villain.