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Apple sues HTC for iPhone patent infringements

Tom Warren
02 March 2010 - 14:44
112 Comments
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Apple said on Tuesday that it is suing Taiwan-based smartphone manufacturer HTC for infringing on 20 Apple iPhone patents.

The patents relate to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. Apple has filed the lawsuit with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware.

“We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”

At least one of the patents relates to "Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image". According to the court papers Apple is seeking a permanent injunction that would stop HTC from selling devices in the United States of America.

This isn't the first time the iPhone has been caught up in legal fights. Nokia filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) in December 2009 saying almost all of the company's products violate its patents not just the Apple iPhone. Nokia believes Apple's iPhone, iPods and computers all violate its intellectual property rights. Apple counter sued to fight the allegations and the case is still ongoing.

HTC manufactures a large number of devices based on the Windows Mobile and Android operating systems. Google's Nexus One Android phone is also manufactured by HTC.

Update: Gizmodo has posted the full court paper filings, included below.

Update 2: HTC has now issued an official statement: “HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple’s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC.”

Comments (113)

  1. giggsey - 02 March 2010 - 14:48

    I suppose Apple want to try to sue someone back, after Nokia/Kodak and maybe others are after Apple for patent infringement.

    It'll be interesting to see how the UI was copied.

  2. Singh400 - 02 March 2010 - 14:48

    *sighs* Go and take a jump off a cliff Apple.

  3. vaximily - 02 March 2010 - 16:46

    Singh400 said,
    *sighs* Go and take a jump off a cliff Apple.

    +1, something like unlocking with a gesture is not innovative on either side, it's common sense!

  4. Tim Dawg - 02 March 2010 - 21:04

    Just wait. They'll next patent the idea of putting a key in the door handle then turning the key to unlock said door. Every door knob manufacturer in the world will be paying Apple to allow us the right to use their patent to unlock our front doors.

  5. dagrimdialer619 - 03 March 2010 - 06:17

    vaximily said,

    +1, something like unlocking with a gesture is not innovative on either side, it's common sense!

    Regardless, it's a patent.

  6. ajua - 03 March 2010 - 22:59

    dagrimdialer619 said,

    Regardless, it's a patent.

    It's a patent, but it is also evidence that something is wrong in the international patents system.

    You should not be allowed to be granted rights about things that are made of common sens and don't include something unique in its design.

    A gesture over an image is ridiculous., to say the least.

  7. Pam14160 - 02 March 2010 - 14:52

    Answer me this; does anyone really care who sues who now days. It seems that is all these phone makers and developers are doing. And, of course Apple is in the middle. This is just getting to be the natural case anymore in the tech industry. Who will be next on the dock. . .

  8. DeltaFalcon - 02 March 2010 - 16:03

    It would actually be odd if one of these companies wasn't suing another or many others these days.

    What have we come to? Certainly, patent law needs a compete overhaul.

  9. RealFduch - 02 March 2010 - 17:27

    Pam14160 said,
    Answer me this; does anyone really care who sues who now days. It seems that is all these phone makers and developers are doing. And, of course Apple is in the middle. This is just getting to be the natural case anymore in the tech industry. Who will be next on the dock. . .

    A don't like giving my money to *******s.

  10. M_Lyons10 - 03 March 2010 - 01:14

    DeltaFalcon said,
    What have we come to? Certainly, patent law needs a compete overhaul.

    +1

  11. SputnikGamer - 03 March 2010 - 05:17

    DeltaFalcon said,

    What have we come to? Certainly, patent law needs a compete overhaul.

    The laws themselves are fine. It what the patent agency is allowing to be patented that is retarded.

  12. chaos_disorder - 02 March 2010 - 14:53

    I'm assuming that this is largely due to HTC's Android phones having multi-touch.

  13. Twisted Chaz - 02 March 2010 - 15:05

    chaos_disorder said,
    I'm assuming that this is largely due to HTC's Android phones having multi-touch.

    Or probably because HTC have started getting a lot more coverage lately, becoming more of an immediate competitor.

  14. Tom W - 02 March 2010 - 16:26

    chaos_disorder said,
    I'm assuming that this is largely due to HTC's Android phones having multi-touch.

    In that case wouldn't they sue Google?

  15. vaximily - 02 March 2010 - 16:48

    Tom W said,
    In that case wouldn't they sue Google?

    Multi-touch is all about the hardware, not just the OS.

    And I haven't read the documents, but I doubt this relates to multi-touch as dozens of companies have multi-touch and a few (Microsoft included) had it long before Apple.

  16. +Smigit - 03 March 2010 - 00:32

    I think usually these things relate to the specific implementation...usually the patents are fairly specific. So I don't think saying "they have multitouch" is enough as thats too broad, but perhaps something more specific to how HTC does it violates something Apple has patented.

    My take anyway.

  17. +Squirts MacIntosh - 02 March 2010 - 14:53

    The problem, Jobs, is that your company tries to patent EVERYTHING that isn't an invention. At some point, I'm sure you've been granted a patent for the kitchen sink. Patents only serve to hurt competition, not encourage it.

    I, for one, hope Apple loses. Provided they cannot prove that HTC knowingly violated any of Apple's patents.

  18. vetneufuse - 02 March 2010 - 15:11

    Hurmoth said,
    The problem, Jobs, is that your company tries to patent EVERYTHING that isn't an invention. At some point, I'm sure you've been granted a patent for the kitchen sink. Patents only serve to hurt competition, not encourage it.

    I, for one, hope Apple loses. Provided they cannot prove that HTC knowingly violated any of Apple's patents.

    Isn't that what they want though, no competition?

  19. +Squirts MacIntosh - 02 March 2010 - 15:12

    neufuse said,
    Isn't that what they want though, no competition?
    By no means am I say that isn't true, but you'd think by now Apple would be use to competition :P

  20. giga - 02 March 2010 - 15:19

    Hurmoth said,
    Patents only serve to hurt competition, not encourage it.

    It's really a double edged sword. They initially serve to encourage innovation (why else would anyone innovate if there was no incentive from the R&D spent?) But after one is granted the patent, it pretty much stifles the competition unless they can possibly come up with a better implementation--which that other company would probably patent as well. And the cycle goes on until the patent expires.

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