Apple wins patent ruling against HTC

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published

Ruling on patents filed in 1994 and 1996 could affect all makers of Android smartphones

HTC Sensation

The Guardian is reporting that Apple has won a preliminary ruling in the US that Taiwanese phone maker HTC Corp infringed two of its patents.

HTC, which uses Google's Android operating system for its smartphones, says it will "vigorously fight" the infringement finding.

The preliminary ruling from a US trade panel judge may mean Apple can go after other Android handset makers for licence fees, although the decision must still be ratified by a full panel.

Apple could also demand a US import ban against HTC. The risk for other Android handset makers is that their devices could infringe the patents too.

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Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.