>The U.S. International Trade Commission decided HTC is a violation of Apple’s patent for a “system and method of carrying out an action on the structure of the computer generated data.” This refers to situations where, for example, a user taps a phone number via email to bring up the phone application and make calls.
Although the ITC ruled in favor of Apple, HTC described the decision as a victory. In a statement, the company said: “Since the elements of the violation identified by the ITC is involved and the impact that only a very minimal part of the user interface, we will remove as soon as possible and sell the products of non-infringement.”
HTC has until April 19, 2012, to meet the decision, after which time the handset will be banned from import into the U.S..
Decision is the latest of a series of patent battles between Apple and Android handsets manufacturing. The company has also been locked in court battle with Samsung in Australia, Europe and the U.S. during the company’s Galaxy tablets and mobile phones Korea.
In the last month Samsung announced a new version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet would have tweaked the design to prevent the ban imposed by a German court. Apple sued Samsung in Germany more than six further patents. Samsung has replied, Apple hit with patent lawsuit itself.
