HTC files suit against Apple, protects future sales of HTC EVO
Last July, we told you about the latest Apple lawsuit against HTC, who manufactures our beloved line of EVO phones and tablets. And while Apple alleged that HTC Android devices like the EVO 4G, EVO 3D, and EVO View 4G tablet infringed upon its own patents, HTC was quick to fire back, accusing Apple of resorting "to competition in the courts rather than the market place."
Following an initial ruling by the International Trade Commission in Apple's favor, HTC changed its tune and offered to negotiate with Apple in the hopes of protecting its ability to sell products in the United States.
Fast forward to today, and it looks like the patent battle is escalating once again. This time, with the help of nine patents that HTC acquired from Google on September 1, HTC is now filing its own lawsuit against Apple. According to Bloomberg:
The lawsuit contends the Mac computer, iPhone, iPod, iPad, iCloud and iTunes are infringing patents for a way to upgrade software wirelessly; a way to transfer data between a microprocessor and a support chip; a method to store user preferences, and a way to provide consistent contact between application software and a radio modem.
The patents in question in this most recent suit originally belonged to Palm, Motorola, and Openwave Systems, were acquired by Google last year and earlier this year, and were then transferred to HTC. And while many disagree on the legitimacy of these various patent claims, analysts can agree on two things: HTC's case just got a lot stronger, and HTC (like Apple) will stop at nothing to protect its market share.
[Bloomberg]
