Apple files suit against HTC by Zuzana Zelenakova

Apple Inc. filed a suit against Taiwan smartphone maker on Tuesday for infringing about 20 of its iPhone patents. Steve Jobs, Apple´s chief executive commented the company´s move: "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," he added. The company that created fancy gadgets such as iPod or Macintosh computer accused HTC of stealing patents concerning hardware, user interface and others belonging to the iPod. HTC Corporation, or High Tech Computer Corp! oration, is the manufacturer of Google´s the Nexus One smartphone, that uses Android operating system, launched in January, 2010. It is widely speculated that the lawsuit is in fact and indirect attack on Google as many of the HTC smartphones mentioned in the accusations use Google´s open source Android operating system, including HTC Dream, also marketed as T-mobile G1 in the US and Europe, which was the first phone using the Android mobile device platform. "It's probably simpler for them to go after the company making the infringing goods, which is HTC. It's easier to prove at this point," says Mark Simpson, patent attorney from Saul Ewing based in Philadelphia. Among others mentioned in the suit are the HTC Touch Pro, the HTC Touch Diamond, or the HTC Tilt. Lawsuits such as this are common practice among technology companies. For example, Apple is currently being sued by Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia. Another recent dispute concerns the Blacberry maker Motio! n accused of patent infringement by Motorola. In an official s! tatement as response to the lawsuit HTC issued that it had not had the opportunity to look into the matter more closely. "Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC."

related story (sgx16659): http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100303/tc_nm/us_apple_htc;_ylt=...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for SigEx Ventures (http://sigexventures.com)

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