// Home / News

Google backs HTC in Apple patent row

By Hani Megerisi

Posted on 3 Mar 2010 at 11:25

Google has sprung to the defence of its mobile handset partner, HTC, in its lawsuit with Apple.

Apple yesterday launched a patent suit claiming that HTC had "stolen" 20 of its patents, including the touchscreen interface and other underlying architectural technologies.

“We are not a party to this lawsuit. However, we stand behind our Android operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it,” said Google in a statement. Google's Android OS is used on several HTC models, including the Google-branded Nexus One phone.

We stand behind our Android operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it

Competition between Apple and Google has escalated as their fields of business increasingly cross. The iPhone accounted for 30% of Apple’s 2009 revenue, and Android’s market share climbed from 0.5% to 3.9% last year.

Google chief Eric Schmidt resigned last year from the Apple board of directors after claiming that the increasing levels of competition between the firms posed a potential conflict of interest.

Attack on Google?

Legal experts claim Apple will likely have pre-warned HTC before issuing the lawsuit. “[Apple] will have identified infringements – and it may have already been in touch with HTC to say ‘look, you’re infringing on our patents and you need to stop’,” said Matt Dixon, a chartered patent attorney at Harrison Goodard Foote.

“It is absolutely the typical approach to at least send a letter of action,” added Dixon. “People don’t realise how much this goes on. There will be a lot of discussion behind the scenes. Litigation is usually a last resort."

When asked whether the suit was an indirect attack on Google, Dixon said: “If the patents cover the handset rather than the software then that’s where the suit is. To infringe the payment you have to meet the definition in the patent 'claims', so if it’s for a mobile phone rather than the software then it [Apple] has no direct case against Google.”

Apple boss Steve Jobs said yesterday that the company would work to protect its patents and that Apple's “competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours”.

Subscribe to PC Pro magazine. We'll give you 3 issues for £1 plus a free gift - click here

From around the web

User comments

People in glass houses and all that.....

"Apple boss Steve Jobs said yesterday that the company would work to protect its patents and that Apple's “competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours”."

Steve Jobs should be a comedian. Talk about pot, kettle, black and the like. Like Apple never steals anyone elses ideas. Apple attacks what it sees to be competition - they have stood still with the iPhone while competitors have caught up and are in the process of taking over. HTC are the biggest threat to the iPhone and they know it.

By everton2004 on 3 Mar 2010

Normally big companies settle patent lawsuits through cross-licencing deals. However Apple needs to be "unique" to support its hardware margins and business model which means it can't afford some of the flexibility one would expect.

By milliganp on 3 Mar 2010

I have always had some sympathy for Creative as the invetors of the MP3 player.
So I agree fully everton2004.
Been good at marketing and design does not mean you invented everything, though it does seem to effect ego.
Touch Screen ? Surely I was using a palm with a touch screen 12 years ago.
Still it will keep underworked legal departments busy.

By Francis on 4 Mar 2010

"Litigation is usually a last resort."

Going on past performance by Apple, the last resort is usually the exchange of large sums of money *before* a judgement is handed down.

It's good to see Google standing behind HTC as the power of money generally wins in these skirmishes.

I wonder what's happening on the Nokia/Kodak/Apple front? Maybe that action will enable us to see who is stealing what -- although somehow I doubt it.

By 6tricky9 on 5 Mar 2010

Leave a comment

You need to Login or Register to comment.