Apple has announced it is to drag HTC to the courts over its handsets, hitting the company with a lawsuit referring to over 20 iPhone patents it says have been infringed.
The patents refer to the phone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware but don't specifically mention Google or Android.
Google has had close ties with HTC ever since the company launched its Android mobile OS first on the G1, and since then HTC has launched a Google-specific handset (the Nexus One) and a number of 'with Google' phones as well.
Decided to do something about it
In short, the tie-up with Google is a significant one that has started to threaten Apple's dominance in the handset and app market with the iPhone.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is quoted on the lawsuit as saying: "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.
"We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."
When it comes to the user interface, HTC's SenseUI overlay has been praised wholeheartedly for its widget-based, multiple home-screen approach to phone navigation.
Fingers-crossed that whatever the outcome – and it's unknown what exactly the patent infringements refer too – this technology stays just as it is. Saying that, recent leaks (which haven't been confirmed as being real) of a new SenseUI design do show startling similarities to the iPhone's User Interface.
Via Engadget
Your comments (6) Click to add a new comment
duskrider
March 3rd 2010
6. I, for one, am disgusted by the fact that patents are given out on so many frivolous things that lawsuits can even pop up over things like lock screens that you swipe to unlock. Next thing you know, there will be a patent on making someone lift their finger at the end of a button press.
How is this kind of patent granting system helping innovation, it's original goal?
Nowadays, when you invent something, your coup isn't in the ideas you have implemented but on how many simple, natural human things you can patent along with it. It's sad, really.
The norm also seems to be for the industry to sue each other in order to come up with agreements to license and such rather than just working it out up front. That is a clear indicator of how unhealthy the patent system is.
I agree with protecting intellectual property, but is it really very intellectual to come up with the idea of swiping your finger to unlock a screen instead of pushing a button? Does that deserve protection? Should Crayola patent using a left-to-right crayon stroke to draw a line? Then, all pencil makers would have to pay Crayola fees to allow their users to do the same thing. If you put many of these patents into a different context, it becomes clear how ridiculous they are.
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nitrofan
March 3rd 2010
5. Ha ha ha ha Apple is getting worried! But as no one here knows if their claim is true or false! we shall have to wait and see what the court says! Personally I hope the judge throws the whole thing out of court.
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duskrider
March 2nd 2010
4. @windywoo: you know all about Apple's motives when none of us knows what they are even suing for? Geez, you're good!
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windywoo
March 2nd 2010
3. mattswain, nokia are suing Apple only after they failed to reach licensing agreements on 3G technologies. Apple's litigation is entirely motivated by them wanting to destabalize a competitor.
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mattswain
March 2nd 2010
2. @cdubb - yes it you. They're all at it suing each other so there's no logic to you singling out Apple. Nokia for example is currently suing anyone and everyone.
It seems to boil down to the fact that it is now pretty much impossible to develop a new mobile phone without someone suing you. If it uses a touch screen then Company X sues; if it has voice control, Company Y sues; if it has buttons then Company Z sues. It's all kind of got out of hand.
The bottom line will be the same as always; there'll be a bundle of money passed around the electronics companies as each one sues the next gradually getting diminished at each stage as the lawyers take their cut and end up being the only winners. It's certain that the consumer won't win as we ultimately end up paying for all of the legal action with inflated price tags on the items being fought over.
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cdubb
March 2nd 2010
1. Is it me or are apple starting to get a bit, well, teenager-ish! Does anyone really think this is about patents? Or, as we've seen with Adobe, is Apple starting to through it's toys out of the pram now not everyone is on bended knee for them. Apple have definitely lost one customer.
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