Apple sues HTC for infringing 20 iPhone patents
By Nilay Patel 
posted March 2nd 2010 11:38AM
posted March 2nd 2010 11:38AM
Looks like Apple's going on the warpath, kids. Just a few months after Cupertino got into it with Nokia over phone patents, Apple's filed suit against HTC, alleging that the company is infringing 20 patents "related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture, and hardware." Steve, you have something to say?Okay then. We're pulling the complaint filing now, we'll let you know the exact details as soon as we learn them."We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."
Update: HTC just gave us a statement -- this is apparently coming totally out of the blue for them, since Apple hasn't even served the complaint yet.
Update 2: We mean it when we say this was all just filed in the past few hours -- it's not yet in the court's systems. We just got the PDFs andWe only learned of Apple's actions based on your stories and Apple's press release. We have not been served yet so we are in no position to comment on the claims. We respect and value patent rights but we are committed to defending our own innovations. We have been innovating and patenting our own technology for 13 years.
[We've now looked at each and every patent in both cases in-depth -- check it out here.]
Update 3: We've just learned that Apple submitted over 700 pages of exhibits to the District Court, which is a little nuts. In addition, the ITC complaint lists a number of specific HTC handsets as exhibits, including the Nexus One, Touch Pro, Touch Diamond, Touch Pro2, Tilt II, Pure, Imagio, Dream / G1, myTouch 3G, Hero, HD2, and Droid Eris. That's really a full range of HTC phones, running both Android and Windows Mobile, with and without Sense / TouchFLO. Interestingly, the Android sets are specifically included because they run Android, while the WinMo sets are called out specifically for including DSP chips, not anything to do with Windows Mobile.
@deepen03
Speaking of not whining, when did it become not okay to defend your patents? You realize that HTC does appear to have infringed on patents that Apple owns, right? Why shouldn't Apple take action against them?
Nokia is suing Apple for patent infringement, I don't see you getting all butthurt about that.
@Jack yea I know but just look at some of these ridiculous patents apple has.. they patented the size and shape of a device along with what it looks like in the software? That shouldn't be allowed. the FCC should have seen this when Apple released the iPhone. They basically made patents to not let anyone even make sometime close to their precious device. and this is coming from an iPhone owner. Its always good to have other companies make similar products. Apple should be happy that others like their design and are using that as a basis for their devices. And just think. they have known that HTC was copying them for almost a year now. They just waited for enough devices by HTC to be out so they can rake in the most money off of this law suit. Apple needs to stop worrying about how other companies use their ideas, and instead try and add more features to their iPhone and make it better than HTC and the Android OS.
@deepen03
No one is copying apple. The problem here is that the patent office let apple patent very broad processes that can be (keyword here) INTERPRETED as many different things. That way anything that even comes close to their crap can be said to be stepping on apples patents.
"Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image"
Whats an image? is it a picture of something or someone? a graphic of some sorts? an icon of something?
Whats a gesture or gestures? is it a swipe? a tap?
Seriously. no one is copying them, they just make BROAD claims in their patents so they can sue the hell out of anything thats even resembles it.
No surprise there. Basically ever HTC phone looks like an iPhone with minor tweaks. And lets not be idiots here, we all know HTC has been trying to kill the iPhone since it came out.
@mtnDewFTW Sue my G1 with a FULL keyboard look just like an i phone. Are you fuck#$% blind. How does the Droid with an amold screen look like a iphone with its crap display. Get some glasses!!!!
@Djkay Um... I think you might need glasses. THE DROID WASN'T MADE BY HTC! It was Made By Motorola. Moron
F you Apple.
F you Steve Jobs.
That is all.
Apple new lows? I mean finger swipe is a common gesture use by mankind... How can they patent such idiotic thing anyway? Next up? Apple patents one handed stroke while holding a device.
12 pages of comments? wtf, can someone summarize.. lol.
@dansus
I'll summarize - there are a lot of Apple haters here that are pretty dumb. They don't like it if Apple defends patents that they own, but they're fine with it if somebody else sues Apple for the EXACT SAME THING.
Bunch of Apple hating hypocrites. Summary over.
@Jack
Thanks for that, i was going to read it anyway but looking at the last few comments, i wont bother.
Guess no one knows what its all about yet, best let the court decide and let us know what the skinny is.
These things are often designed to distract a company, especially if they doing well. This is probably whats happening here and often lacks substance.
@Jack did you actually READ the patents that Apple is defending? It's ridiculous. they're so broad that it's a disgrace that the patents were actually granted.
@HelghanSuperSniper
And yet Apple owns them anyway. Are you going to blame Apple for that? Or have you considered placing the blame where it belongs, namely our crappy patent system?
Furthermore, do you honestly think Apple is the only company with broad patents? HTC proudly proclaims they've been securing patents for 13 years, how much hard cash do you want to bet that most of them are broad and vague?
Don't be stupid about this. All companies do this. ALL COMPANIES. As proof, Nokia is suing Apple for patent infringement. But let me guess, Apple is still the only bad guy in this scenario, right? Right?
You can't have that argument both ways. Either you agree with defending patents, or you don't. Pick one.
@Jack I f apple wins they will be the only touch screen phone in the United States. What a bout people who HATE APPLE! Why should I have to use a less functional phone. Wake up and fan boy and see the evil you support.
Wow, that is so vague, it doesn't even make sense. For instance, "Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image", could mean anything. What image? The background? Apple's devices don't even do that! Every company has probably patented something along those lines! Obviously, Apple is suing just because they want to get HTC's money or to make HTC lose money.
http://mobilementalism.com/2010/03/02/apple-sues-htc-threatens-the-whole-smartphone-market/
I love how people are flaming Apple without knowing anything about the patents in question, many of which date back to the days of NeXT and have nothing to do with "smartphones" and "multitouch."
Doesn't Apple corporate realize that by not putting a leash on their lawyer dogs that ultimately they can do millions of dollars in PR damage alone with a ridiculous stunt like this?
Even if its just the legal team run amok, it makes the whole company look like a bunch of douchecanoes.
@Ducman69
First of all, no one is going to hear about this. HTC is tiny, and its going to result in a settlement. Get over yourself.
Secondly, do you realize Apple has 40+ billion in the bank? Who cares about the cost of defending your patents, you have to stand up for yourself and stand up for the work you do.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with this, we've been waiting for Apple to drop the hammer on these iPhone wannabes for a while now. All these nutjobs talking about 'let's march on Apple and burn the place down' really need to take a pill.
To all the haters I ask, "What the hell did you think was going to happen when Palm, HTC, Moto, etc started copying the iPhone?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU
HTC must be "great artists" by his own words..
I want to smack the Sh#% out of ever Crapple fan boy!!!! If they only had an Idea of the evil vile company they are supporting. If you hand me an I phone I will break it over your head!!!
Lets march on Apple stores and protest CRAPPLE!!!
Steve Jobs, you're a cool guy and all, but can you please just fuck off?
QQ Apple. Q freakin Q.
I don't profess to know much about this kind of stuff, but way back in 2002 to 2003 I was using touchscreen only PDA phones, where the dial pad was on screen and the PDA functions were all touchscreen commands too.
One was the Toshiba 2032 (Audiovox)
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=146
And in 2003 I was using a Samsung i330. THAT'S RIGHT, 7 YEARS AGO SAMSUNG HAD A TOUCHSCREEN BASED "SMARTPHONE" WITH AN "i" IN THE NAME!
http://www.mobiledia.com/phones/samsung/sph-i330.html
My point is that while Apple gambled with bringing back the touchscreen only iPhone, it was not Apple's idea.
Apple is guilty of copying others' ideas just as much as others mimic Apple's concepts.
In legal circles the defense against Apple's lawsuit would be that Apple has "unclean hands." HTC will probably be able show Apple should take nothing in its lawsuit because Apple has unclean hands.
Apple's just sore because no one likes the iPad.
I'm disappointed, it seems like over the past two years technology has been in reverse. What the fuck.
Sue HTC for all they worth and make a nice 4th and 5th generation iPhone for us.
HTC stop being a chinese company and rip people off with cheap knockoffs. That is all.
@kyphem
You are the epitome of Apples consumer/fan base! Thanks for that comment!
do they even deserve such discussion?
APPLE = GAY
@jawtab eloquently put. with factual evidence to back it up none-the-less!
I think the only reason why apple is suing HTC is because Apple sees HTC as its rival when it comes to technology.
I have here a short comparison between 5800 and Apple
Comparing Nokia 5800 Xpress Music With Apple 3G Iphone
http://mattscradle.com/?p=113
......LOL i see people using wiki as proof to back up their arguments...it's almost as if they don't realize that it can be edited by any anyone on the web.
Maybe Mad TV should sue apple for using "IPad" without their permission.
no seriously.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L68aKVAzwQ4
total combined comments on this lawsuit is over 1500 = MOST EVER!!
just saying
APPLE SUCKS! APPLE SUCKS! APPLE SUCKS!
... oh sorry, just trying to get a highest ranked like some of the other posts that have nothing more to offer than this.
HTC and Google should buy Foxconn. That'll teach Apple!
Apple did not invent anything, true..
But before the iPhone, HTC wasn't making Touch-Screen smartphones.
So, no, they can't fight back saying they've been doing this for 13 years because they were not.
HTC is known for making cheap chinese knockoffs. How fast will HTC execs settle?
steve is sick and narrow minded. he and his Apple just like his bitten apple, missing an important piece: innovation! that bitten piece belongs to innovators, when the apple was bitten and proven not poisonous, they took all left and kept it as if it was theirs. look at Apple's history, which of his famous stuff was invented by him? from Mac(stolen ideas from Xerox), to itune(music store), to ipod(music player), to iphone(phone) to ipad(tablet), which one was originally their idea? I respect steve because he is the greatest copier and knows how to avoid infringing others, knows how to make big noise, and knows how to wow media and press. unfortunately, there is no new bitten apple they can claim as theirs now, so they need some other ways to make noise. come on, back to life steve, use your better imagination.
steve is sick and narrow minded. he and his Apple just like his bitten apple, missing an important piece: innovation! that bitten piece belongs to innovators, when the apple was bitten and proven not poisonous, they took all left and kept it as if it was theirs. look at Apple's history, which of his famous stuff was invented by him? from Mac(stolen ideas from Xerox), to itune(music store), to ipod(music player), to iphone(phone) to ipad(tablet), which one was originally their idea? I respect steve because he is the greatest copier and knows how to avoid infringing others, knows how to make big noise, and knows how to wow media and press. unfortunately, there is no new bitten apple they can claim as theirs now, so they need some other ways to make noise. come on, back to life steve, use your better imagination.
Patent everything. Then sue. It's a business strategy.
This can be fixed by not allowing processes to be patented, only actual physical items.
Love my iPhone, hate Apple's BS
http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html
The history of multitouch and since when the pinch to zoom feature has existed.
Object oriented crap. Thats how all programmers work. Every single patent in their is ludicrous.
Nokia sued apple over hardware technology and im not saying right or wrong whether they asked for too much or too less.
Every single company in the world that makes phones pays nokia money for its technology. Nokia had to pay off quallcom for its technology when it lost the case. Apple did not have any background in the mobile world and made a phone , infringed on harware patents and now is sueing on flimsy software patents.
Shame Apple.
Htc should buy palm and then sue apples ass on this one.
All the other phone cos should get together and sue apple. Motorola Palm Sony Samsung LG Blackberry . The open handset alliance needs to take a collective stand on this as well .
Can someone say anti-trust?
steve jobs is getting wayyyy to caught up in his products. who invented the multi touch? who invented the smart phone? ect.... good luck with that one!