20th December 2011

HTC loses Apple patent ruling… but only one of them

The International Trade Commission found that HTC infringed one patent held by the US technology giant, down from the ten as originally claimed. The patent in question relates to the use of “data tapping” which allows a user to select embedded data within a screen (for example a phone number) and do something with it (for example make a call to it).

It’s a pretty hollow victory for Apple, and by inference good news for HTC/Google/Android. Expect a small tweak to HTC’s software to be made in the next few months so that they conform with the ruling.

HTC’s share price is back up following the verdict, which mirrors investors take on our own. It means that HTC will need to make changes, but pretty small ones. It could have been a lot lot worse.

Barry Hesk