X

HTC fires back at Apple patent complaint

The Taiwanese company touts its "history of innovation" and says it will fully defend itself against Apple's legal action claiming iPhone patent infringement.

Lance Whitney Contributing Writer
Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on Windows and another on LinkedIn.
See full bio
Lance Whitney
2 min read

Handset maker HTC says it's ready to defend itself against a patent complaint filed by Apple.

Earlier this month, Apple launched legal action against HTC, alleging that the Taiwanese company had violated 20 different patents related to the Apple iPhone. HTC makes phones based on Google's Android operating system as well as Microsoft's Windows Mobile.

On Thursday, HTC issued its response.

"HTC disagrees with Apple's actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done," said HTC Chief Executive Officer Peter Chou in a statement, "but we will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible."

Apple claims that HTC is infringing on specific patents related to the iPhone's graphical interface as well as its basic hardware and software design. As a remedy, Apple is seeking an injunction barring HTC from importing or selling devices in the U.S. and is also looking for an undisclosed amount of damages.

Five of the phones named in the complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission--including the Nexus One, which is sold directly by Google--use the Android software, and seven use Microsoft's Windows Mobile software.

At the time, HTC said it was caught off-guard by the lawsuit and that it would review the details before issuing a complete statement. In promising to fight the lawsuit, Chou also touted his company's "history of innovation."

"From day one, HTC has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for people looking for a smartphone," Chou said. "In 1999 we started designing the XDA and T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition, our first touch-screen smartphones, and they both shipped in 2002 with more than 50 additional HTC smartphone models shipping since then."