HTC and Apple have just announced that they’re settling all of their patent disputes, and have agreed to a 10-year licensing deal with one another, as well as dismissing all of their current lawsuits against each other. The license extends to current and future patents held by both companies.
Unfortunately, we’re not told of all the details about the settlement between the two companies, since both parties want to mostly keep it under wraps, but both big wigs, Peter Chou of HTC and Tim Cook from Apple, have issued brief statements about the settlement:
“HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. ”
“We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC,” said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. “We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation.”
The war between HTC and Apple began back in March of 2010 when Apple filed lawsuits with the International Trade Commission and the US District Court. The lawsuits covered 20 patents relating to iOS, which Apple accused HTC of infringing upon. Since then, it’s been a growing battle.
HTC eventually counter-sued in 2011 and claimed that the Cupertino company infringed on several of HTC’s own patents with the Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Both companies have been exchanging legal blows for over two years with potential product bans and legal fees that were said to be up to $100 million, but it seems that both companies have come to their senses and have settled their differences.
wow Im a bit shocked but glad apple is playing nice. They get slight respect from me….for the time being.
What respect? don’t bother. they only agreed because HTC had them by the balls with legit pattent accusation.
OPlease stop using Cupertino company. I am in absolutely no way an apple fan but for us who are geographically challenged and don’t pay attention to apple and their bs, those words believe it or not sound like mofia ties. I don’t really care or would I be surprised if it hey were “tied” but just say apple. I get the point. When you mention Google(whom I love to support) and Microsoft rarely do you mention Redman or where ever Google is located. That’s right, I 100% support Google, android and all that they do but have no clue where they are located. So once again leave out the name or reference to Cupertino which also makes me think of being ripped off for a cup of coffee and just use the company names please and thank you!
The reason for this settlement between Apple and HTC has very little to do with HTC’s implementation of Android, which quite frankly, if that was the main reason for their dispute, Apple wouldn’t have settled.
No, this settlement is about APPLE realizing it was facing a LOSING patent infringement battle against HTC and its LTE patents that could have lead to a sales injunction against all iPhone 5, iPad Mini and iPad 4 LTE models in the US.
The judge in the case had already cautioned Apple that he would have to be “overwhelmed with evidence” to grant their request to invalidate HTC’s LTE patents. If he didn’t invalidate those patents, it would basically be an air-tight case for HTC as Apple hadn’t argued that they didn’t use the technology covered by those patents (which is beyond dispute), only that HTC shouldn’t have been awarded them.
It’s not a surprise that the terms of the settlement were kept “confidential”, but if they are ever released it will be revealed that it is APPLE paying HTC for licensing fees, not the other way around.
Unfortunately for Apple, they are involved in a similar case with Samsung in the EU with regards to infringements against Samsung’s LTE patents in the iPhone 5, iPad Mini and iPad 4.
It’s unlikely Samsung would agree to a settlement. Rather, it’s more likely they’ll play hardball and force a permanent sales injunction on those Apple products in the EU, which would land a crippling blow to Apple, ceasing revenue from their top three highest grossing products in their second most important market, and sending their AAPL share price into a spinning nose dive from which they may never recover.
Next iPhone 5S will come with 4G 😀
Apple got the rights to use real tech with this agreement and HTC the right to have rounded corners.
Bom artigo.