Mobile Computing News

Photo: Apple

It has emerged that Apple is involved in an iPhone lawsuit, having sued HTC for infringing on 20 iPhone patents. The suit speaks to how HTC devices work, both from an interface perspective to an operational perspective and more.

A little history

Photo: HTC

It is worth noting that Apple and its iPhone is not new to the game of ‘sue and let sue’, having been sued by Nokia in a move many tech pundits called sour grapes on the Finnish handset manufacturer’s part. Apple counter-sued so as to protect themselves, argued these technology enthusiasts. Now, those same people are left scratching their heads about why Apple is suing HTC, not so much in that it makes no sense to sue HTC, but rather Apple’s motives are nowhere near as altruistic as the company’s supporters will have you believe.

The suit

The iPhone lawsuit, which contains a mind-blowing 700 pages worth of exhibits, names specific HTC phones running the full gamut of the company’s product spectrum, from the now antiquated Touch Diamond to the G1 and Google Nexus One as examples of violations. In addition, the suit makes a clear distinction between Android OS HTC phones and their Windows Mobile counterparts, citing the Android specifically in the former and referring to the latter as DSP chips. Which, some have extrapolated, means Apple is taking a healthy swing at this operating system more than anything else with this suit.
The Android factor

Photo: Android

Whether Android as a self-contained product is the problem or the way HTC implements Android is the problem, what is clear is Apple is targeting this operating system’s biggest supporter – and arguably the platform’s most important handset manufacturer. This is in line with various arguments that relations between Apple and Google have soured as a result of Google playing in a space Steve Jobs feels his company has claim to. Speaking of Steve Jobs in relation to this iPhone lawsuit, in the Apple statement concerning it, he says Apple thinks competition is healthy, but competitors should innovate instead of steal from them.
HTC have indicated intent to defend themselves. Much more will unfold in the coming weeks.