HTC Hits Apple with Patent Lawsuit Targeting Mac and iOS Devices

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Reuters briefly reports (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/16/us-apple-htc-idUSTRE77F38E20110816) that Android smartphone manufacturer HTC has struck back at Apple with a new patent lawsuit targeting not only iOS devices but also Macs. The suit was filed in United States District Court in Delaware.The lawsuit addresses the following patents:

- 7,765,414 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7765414.PN.&OS=PN/7765414&RS=PN/7765414): Circuit and operating method for integrated interface of PDA and wireless communication system
- 7,672,219 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,672,219.PN.&OS=PN/7,672,219&RS=PN/7,672,219): Multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
- 7,417,944 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,417,944.PN.&OS=PN/7,417,944&RS=PN/7,417,944): Method for orderwire modulation

HTC was the first Android handset manufacturer to be targeted by Apple in the current web of patent lawsuits, with Apple having filed suit (//www.macrumors.com/2010/03/02/apple-files-lawsuit-against-htc-over-alleged-iphone-patent-infringement/) back in March 2010. Last month, an International Trade Commission judge ruled (//www.macrumors.com/2011/07/15/itc-rules-for-apple-in-htc-patent-case/) in favor of Apple in an initial determination, setting the stage for a more thorough review by a panel of judges and increasing pressure on HTC to settle the lawsuit.

Article Link: HTC Hits Apple with Patent Lawsuit Targeting Mac and iOS Devices (//www.macrumors.com/2011/08/16/htc-hits-apple-with-patent-lawsuit-targeting-mac-and-ios-devices/)

I agree and disagree.

I do think companies should be able to defend their IP. It's what the patent system is for. It's not a free for all and everyone should be able to take what they want and ignore the inventor. If you truly invent something, you should be able to protect it and keep it to yourself if you want.

But, it seems like the root of the problem is that many of these patents are very broad and very weak. On all sides.

The way I see this is the industry is flushing itself out. Everyone is guilty. There is no innocent party here. It seems as though the industry is in a free for all and sue me later sort of state. But, hopefully it will cause everything to get flushed out and then they can all move on.

Yes but others seem to be acting like bloody children.

"but he started it!"

I hope Apple sues these scum out of existence. We all know that Apple invented the modern smartphone with the iPhone, everyone else just copies + follows along.

All these followers owe Apple BILLIONS. For them to sue Apple is a joke.

Sorry smarty, the cell phone patent expired years ago.

The only INNOVATION in this industry comes from Apple. All anyone else does is make "me too" products. Can't wait to see what the iPhone 5 has... so we know what we can expect HTC, Samsung and all the other "me too" companies to roll out 1-2 years later.