HTC, Asia's second-largest smartphone maker, won a U.K. High Court case against Apple on Wednesday, July 4, over patents for touchscreen technology used for its mobile devices, including the iPhone maker's slide-to-unlock feature. The judge ruled that HTC has not infringed four of Apple's European-held patents. Judge Christopher Floyd also ruled three of the four patents were invalid, Bloomberg reported.
The ruling on Wednesday marks a significant defeat for Apple, as the iPhone maker is waging a global smartphone patent war. Apple is engaged in patent lawsuits on four continents against Android rivals including HTC and Samsung Electronics, as it competes for the top spot in the $219 billion global smartphone market. The companies have accused each other of blatantly copying designs and technology used in mobile devices.
"Competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own digital technology, not steal ours," Apple told Bloomberg in an emailed statement, without making specific comments on the UK Court's decision. HTC was pleased with the court's ruling, but expressed disappointment at Apple's approach. "We remain disappointed that Apple continues to favor competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace," said Andrea Sommer, a spokeswoman for the Taiwanese company.
The ruling on Wednesday covered Apple's patents on the slide-to-unlock feature, tools used to scroll through photos and change alphabets, as well as software enabling users to touch the screen in two spots at the same time. The court ruled that Apple's photo-management patent is the only one valid of the four patents asserted, but HTC did not infringe it. Apple and HTC are contesting the same four patents in German lawsuits scheduled for later this year.
In the United States, meanwhile, Apple sought to block importation of HTC's newest phones, claiming they violate a patent order issued back in December. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), however, decided that HTC could continue importing the devices while the commission investigated Apple's claims of infringement.
Apple did not say whether or not it would seek to appeal Wednesday ruling at the UK Court of Appeals. The case is HTC Europe Co. v Apple Inc., High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, HC11C02826.
