HTC and Google Respond to Apple´s Lawsuit

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

google-nexus-one HTC, makers of Google´s Nexus One smart phone responds to Apple´s claims of patent infringement. Apple is accusing HTC of violating over twenty of its patents, the bulk of which are related to things behind the touchscreen including the recognition of more than one finger that makes up a the bulk of “gestures.”

HTC was the first maker of an Android equipped smart phone, yet now manufactures a number of models that work on Google´s Operating System. While many believe Apple may very well win this lawsuit it will be many years before any resolution presents itself.

The lawsuit against HTC can´t help but impress most as a clear shot at Google who has seen their smart phone market share double in the last quarter of 2009.

Apple asked the court for “a permanent exclusion order” that would bar from entry “all mobile communications devices and components” made by HTC that carry the offending technologies, according to court documents. That is a clear shot at Google, a company far to large for Apple to take on directly especially given the cross use of Google´s Maps and Search.

“We have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings,” Linda Mills, a spokeswoman for Taoyuan, Taiwan-based HTC, said in an e-mail. “Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made.” This is very typical lawyer speak but expected.

Steve Jobs when showing the iPhone in 2007 said that Apple had received over 200 patents in the making of the iPhone and were prepared to fight anyone who used them, seems like he is serious.

This will continue for years and the only real company speaking at present is Apple, though Google offered this non-statement yesterday in an email to TechChurch.

“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,”