HTC is dropping an appeal in a U.S. International Trade Commission of a ruling that Apple’s mobile devices aren’t infringing on patents it holds. In February, an ITC judge ruled that Apple’s iPhone didn’t infringe on four HTC patents.
“I think HTC did the right thing. I never believed that its first complaint against Apple had merit,” said Florian Mueller of Foss Patents. “HTC could certainly have afforded to continue with the appeal, but it would only have annoyed the CAFC and the ITC.”
Apple and HTC have also been in a months long battle over charges that HTC’s Android-based smartphones infringe on mobile device patents Apple owns.
HTC still has battles with Apple to wage in the courts. The phone maker is hoping to convince the ITC to allow it to use Google’s patents in its legal battles with Apple. They have appealed an Apple injunction related to data tapping, and are still fighting two other Apple initiated ITC complaints.
HTC is also taking steps to purchase S3 Graphics, which, surprise, surprise, has its own patent infringement claims against Apple. HTC and Apple are also battling it out over patents in German courts.
And that was your legal beagle report for Wednesday, June 14, 2012.