Smart phones are only getting smarter and more popular but which device do you prefer? iPhone? Android? Blackberry? Windows Mobile? Most of these phones use similar technology for calling grandma, emailing a client and running countless applications to keep users entertained.
Taking issue with these similarities, Apple filed a lawsuit with the United States International Trade Commission in Washington, DC, claiming that HTC, a Taiwanese based Android manufacturer, infringed 10 iPhone patents. The International Trade Commission ruled in Apple's favor last month, finding that HTC infringed one of Apple's patents. Specifically, the "data-tap" technology that allows users to dial a number in a text message or email by simply clicking on the number.
The ruling means that HTC can no longer import phones with this dialing technology, starting April 19, 2012. This ends a two year legal battle for Apple, as they are developing a reputation for aggressively protecting their intellectual property through lawsuits. Apple recently lost similar patent cases in Australian Federal Court and U.S. District Court in San Jose, California against Samsung Electronics.
