Apple and HTC Settle Patent Dispute

An anonymous reader writes "HTC and Apple have reached a global settlement that includes the dismissal of all current lawsuits and a ten-year license agreement. The license extends to current and future patents held by both parties. The terms of the settlement are confidential. From the article: '"HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation," Peter Chou, HTC's chief executive, said in a statement. Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, also expressed relief in a statement. "We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation," he said.'"

Non-paywalled link

[Anonymous Coward]

The link appears to bring up a paywall for me, either that or a bunch of ad-laden crap that privoxy flushes.

Here's a better link [pcmag.com]

Re:Coincidence?

[punit_r]

Could it be that HTC have started performing badly as a company, so Apple don't consider them worth the lawyer fees any more?

That and a few more. I imagine it to be a mixture of several factors:

1. HTC successfully managed to transfer cases to a venue away from Californian courts

2. ITC found only one of the four / five Apple's patents to be valid and infringed by HTC devices (one related to data-tapping, i.e., detecting links, phone number etc within emails and texts)

3. HTC won a case in Europe on similar patents, where most of Apple's patents were deemed invalid. Only one was deemed valid, and HTC was found not to infringe that.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57466424-94/u.k-judge-htc-phones-do-not-infringe-apple-patents/ [cnet.com]

4. Judges in Delaware found that few of HTC standard essential patents to be likely valid and possibly infringed by Apple and HTC exploring seeking an injunction against iPhone 5 and new iPads using these patents.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57509251-37/u.s-judge-htc-patents-likely-valid-in-apple-suit/ [cnet.com]

So, Apple saw a possibility of loosing the case.

It is still significant development coming from Apple. They have repeatedly held that they are not in the business of licensing "product differentiating features". Only known licensing deal is with Microsoft and Nokia. HTC is the first company which also manufactures Android phones to have reached a settlement with Apple.

Re:damn, i was hoping HTC would die off

[puto]

I work for ATT and we only offer 1 sony phone at a time, especially in the last year. And they are pretty too look at, but just awful phones, that no one really buys, and when they do, they are returned rather quickly, and the ones that keep them are fraught with warranty replacements. Sony is not making any inroads in the US market.

Re:Coincidence?

[Anonymous Coward]

So, Apple saw a possibility of loosing the case.

Does nobody around here know how to spell LOSE? I hate being a spelling and grammar nazi, but seriously, what the fuck?!

loose

Adjective: Not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached: "a loose tooth".
Synonyms: adjective. lax - slack - free

Verb: Set free; release: "the hounds have been loosed".
Synonyms: release - loosen - untie - unfasten - unbind - undo

lose

Verb: 1. Be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something): "I've lost my appetite". 2. Cause (someone) to fail to gain or retain (something): "you lost me my appointment at the university".
Synonyms: miss - waste

Re:HTC can't compete anymore

[icebike]

HTC recorded net income of $137 million so burning millions on unnecessary lawyer fees is in the 1-10% range of their net income.

He said revenue.
You counter with net income.
He's talking Yearly.
You counter with Quarterly.

Lets keep the discussion about the same thing, mkay?

HTC still has revenue of 2,339.2 million /quarter or 9.3 Billion yearly. Source [businessweek.com].

HTCs problems stems from Management's batshit crazy investment pattern in technologies and partnerships that drain cash and return nothing. (Beets Audio). The 13 million (USD) they lost on that stuff plus the 41 million lost fighting Apple patent suits are significant, and bring down earnings from 189.6 million to 134.4. (Quarterly numbers)

They should be plowing that money into sales efforts even if it means "bribing" the purchasing agents and management of the major carriers like some of the manufacturers do. (You didn't for a minute assume carriers choose phones based on specs/looks/price alone did you?). Even with the fanciest gear, if a Carrier won't feature your phone because you didn't fly them to some exotic vacation resort you can't make any headway.

Re:Attack of the Clones

[icebike]

Deliberate production caps on new releases just so they can say they sold out.

Citation, please. Provide it or shut the fuck up.

http://news.techeye.net/mobile/apple-pulls-out-all-the-marketing-stops [techeye.net]

There you go.
I here it helps if you put your hand over your ears and sing LA LALA LA real loud.