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Apple: HTC has "stolen our technology"

By Hani Megerisi

Posted on 2 Mar 2010 at 16:37

Apple has filed a lawsuit against smartphone maker HTC, saying that it has infringed 20 of its patents.

Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, said that the action has been taken to protect his company. “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," he said. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”

The patents are said to relate to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware, although Apple has so far declined to comment on the specifics.

As well as manufacturing its own smartphones, HTC also makes handsets for third parties, such as Google's Nexus One. HTC was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

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

Apple is no stranger to patent disputes. In October last year, Nokia sued Apple, claiming that the iPhone and the iPod touch infringed upon ten of its patents.

Apple followed this by countersuing Nokia in December, accusing the Scandinavian smartphone manufacturer of anti-competitive behaviour.

It is thought that the Nokia holds the largest patent portfolio in the mobile sector, and has entered into patent agreements with approximately 40 companies, although Apple is not among them.

In response to the suit, a spokesperson from HTC said: 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.”

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User comments

Pathetic

Has about as much validity and chance of success, I imagine, as Apple's claim that Microsoft "ripped off" its WIMP interface (which had, itself, been "inspired" by Xerox).
I really want to like Apple but they continue to do things that cheese me off.

I am now resolved to be Apple-free. I've already given away my Macbook and ipod nanos, next to go is my ipod classic: useless now because I've got a new PC and refuse to sully it with the loathsome infestation that is iTunes.

By KevPartner on 2 Mar 2010

iTunes

"and refuse to sully it with the loathsome infestation that is iTunes"

I don't know what the modern version is like, but years ago when I installed iTunes on my PC, it tried to take it over. IT would decide how I burnt CDs or listened to music.

Or so it thought....

By Lacrobat on 2 Mar 2010

What an a load of rubbish

On of the patents is :-

"Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image,"

Seriously, how on earth did Apple get a patent on that. The US patent system ius a joke.

By JStairmand on 2 Mar 2010

When the iPhone came out Apple had 200 patents on its technology; it was only a matter of time before someone infringed one of them. TBH I was surprised Apple didn't do this sooner as there really are so many lookalikes around now.

I have to agree though that the US idea of being able to patent "business processes" is rather silly, but you can blame George Bush for that and we have to live with it.

By SwissMac on 2 Mar 2010

@ SwissMac

"I was surprised Apple didn't do this sooner as there really are so many lookalikes around now".

Based purely on my observations on a few dozen incidents like this, the order of the day seems to be "Wait until competitor makes lots of money, THEN sue them." No point suing a pauper - they just go out of business and you get less money and everyone is aware that your company drove someone's favourite alternative into the ground.

Far better to wait until they have sufficient funds, hit them with loads of lawsuits for supposed patent-infringement, reach an out-of-court settlement for X-million dollars (as always happens), then a year or two down the line, the alleged-infringer's losses due to the settlement finally make themselves felt and they go under.

Voila - lots more cash, asserted your 'right' to those patents AND you get rid of the wannabe company with far less negative image impact on yourself.

By bioreit on 2 Mar 2010

@ bioreit

Spot on. Apple are only doing this now, because HTC are actually taking some of Apple's market and Apple will make more money if sucessful.

Plus, let's be honest, HTC now make better hardware than Apple, even if you don't like the OSes.

By Grunthos on 3 Mar 2010

@Grunthos

"HTC now make better hardware than Apple"

HTC have been in touch phones longer than Apple and their Touch Flo interface predates the iPhone. For myself I think their hardware has always been better.

By jgwilliams on 3 Mar 2010

I agree, I've got an iPhone for work and my own phone is an HTC HD. The HTC isn't as shiny but the battery life alone makes the hardware far better in my mind.
As for the patents, there's a break down of them on Engadget and most do sound like they should be invalid either because of prior art or they aren't a novel way of doing things. Could get interesting if Google get behind HTC to defend Android.

By jamesyld on 3 Mar 2010

@jamesyld

Google backing HTC? Now that is an idea I like the sound of, and I imagine it would be in their own interest to snuff this out early before Apple start chasing Google for patent violation in Android (assuming Google haven't already paid up).

The patent system appears to be a joke, the US system especially so. It certainly doesn't look to be encouraging innovation in its current form.

By StuartN on 4 Mar 2010

In the words of blackadder

of fuh Apple, and Jobs in particular. You've made millions out of stealing- you wouldn't even have had the original Macintosh without seeing the work done at Xerox PARC.

By Rhidney on 4 Mar 2010