Create a free Manufacturing.net account to continue

ITC Backs Apple Against HTC In Patent Suit

The U.S. International Trade Commission issued a preliminary ruling stating that Apple does not infringe on intellectual property.

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (Kyodo) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued a preliminary ruling Monday stating that Apple Inc. has not infringed patents held by Taiwan's electronic manufacturer HTC Corp.

In a complaint filed with the commission in May last year, HTC sought a ban on the import to the United States and sale there of iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices, claiming the devices, assembled overseas, violated multiple patents held by HTC.

A final ruling is expected in February, the Reuters news service said.

HTC, a major manufacturer of smartphones carrying Google Inc.'s operating software Android, has been involved in an intensifying patent war with Apple.

Samsung Electronics Co. has also filed patent-related complaints against Cupertino, California-based computer giant.

More in Industry 4.0