Shares in handset manufacturer, HTC, fell by 6.5% today after the US International Trade Commission issued an initial verdict that the company’s Android handsets infringe two Apple patents.
If the initial determination is upheld, it could result in a ban on HTC Android handsets being imported to the US.
Patent expert, Florian Mueller believes that if the verdict is upheld, it could have implications for all Android handset manufacturers. There’s ‘no doubt that fundamental elements of Android’s technology and architecture are at stake. It’s hard to see how any Android device could not infringe them, or how companies could work around them.’ he wrote in a blog post.
Mueller also thinks it’s unlikely the dispute will be settled with an agreement for HTC to licence the patented technology: ‘For Apple this is not just about money. They’re not going to let HTC build fully functional smartphones and tablets in exchange for $10 or $20 per device unless HTC owns patents that Apple absolutely needs to license,’ he wrote.
A final decision is due on December 6.
