Apple Seeks to Ban the Import of All HTC's Android Smartphones Discussion

[Ed Hardy]

Apple wants to prevent HTC from bringing any of its Android smartphones into the United States, claiming that they all violate one of its patents. HTC denies this.

Read the full content of this Article: Apple Seeks to Ban the Import of All HTC's Android Smartphones

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[Hook]

This really is unbelievable.

First, that some moron in the patent office granted a patent to Apple for something that probably goes back to Mosaic, and secondly that Apple lacks such vision that their only means of competing seems to be harassment.

[Mi An]

First, that some moron in the patent office granted a patent to Apple for something that probably goes back to Mosaic,

This. I don't have a problem with IP -- but you have to actually apply the rules before you grant them for the system to work. If you're beating your opponents over the head with a patent that does not actually pass tests for non-obviousness or novelty, you're an anti-consumer patent troll and deserve to be unequivocally branded as such as widely and broadly as possible. Shame on the tech media (beholden to apple and other trolls for ad $ and traffic) for doing such a poor job of that. Companies have little choice but to apply for everything for defensive purposes, but they don't have to be evil. At least Microsoft is only playing the extortion game and not actually banning products or features from the market.

If you're a tech startup and you don't want to be sued into oblivion for using non-novel and obvious tech, you have to 1) earn revenue or build investment capital at a mind-boggling rate to fund IP defense starting the moment your existence is noticeable or 2) get bought fast by a massive multinational with defenses already in place. And even that doesn't work against pure trolls that own only IP an make no products. I was hopeful when I heard patent reform was being taken up by congress a little while ago, but they actually made it worse by forcing quicker applications with less research so inventors don't lose their rights, and ultimately more applications to a patent office that couldn't even get things right with less traffic.

Apple didn't create the mess, but shame on them for making it worse.

[Varjak]

Again, I think Apple may be pushing it's luck. It require a pretty high hurdle to grant a longer-termed injunction. The court may then review the patent while letting in the HTCs, which might result in a reversal. I can't believe that patent will stand; but I'm not a professional.

[Mitlov]

Didn't similar actions by Apple delay the release of the HTC One X?

This really is absurd and offensive. It's using the courts to delay and mess with the timely arrival of competitors' products to market. It'd be like patenting wedge-shaped laptops just to mess with the Asus Zenbook and HP Spectre XT...OH WAIT THEY DID THAT TOO.

Ultrabooks beware: Apple receives broad patent on MacBook Air wedge design | The Verge

[Guest]

If Microsoft makes a crazy statement like, "we think Windows Phone will overtake iPhone," people post to say that they admire Microsoft's tenacity.

If Apple makes a statement like "HTC infringes on our IP," which may or may not be crazy (I haven't reviewed the background data), people call it absurd and offensive.

I don't have an opinion specifically about the HTC case at this time, but it couldn't be more obvious how many people have a blatant bias of saying, "If Apple did it, it must be wrong." Apparently it also applies to tax strategies used by every tech company and manufacturing plants used by every tech company.

[weegie]

If Microsoft makes a crazy statement like, "we think Windows Phone will overtake iPhone," people post to say that they admire Microsoft's tenacity.

If Apple makes a statement like "HTC infringes on our IP," which may or may not be crazy (I haven't reviewed the background data), people call it absurd and offensive.

I don't have an opinion specifically about the HTC case at this time, but it couldn't be more obvious how many people have a blatant bias of saying, "If Apple did it, it must be wrong." Apparently it also applies to tax strategies used by every tech company and manufacturing plants used by every tech company.

What's Microsoft got to do with it? it's between Apple and HTC's Android devices.The only blatant bias I've seen on BH is you with any criticism of Apple.I remember it well previously.

IMHO, it will be thrown out again for the same reasons as last time but will achieve a "mini win" of holding up competitors new models and causing them litigation costs they probably can't afford.

[Mitlov]

If Microsoft makes a crazy statement like, "we think Windows Phone will overtake iPhone," people post to say that they admire Microsoft's tenacity.

If Apple makes a statement like "HTC infringes on our IP," which may or may not be crazy (I haven't reviewed the background data), people call it absurd and offensive.

Yeah, because one is an optimistic comment about your hopes for the future, and the other is a lawsuit that prevents an opponent from selling their goods and letting customers choose. BIG difference.

[Varjak]

Didn't similar actions by Apple delay the release of the HTC One X?

This really is absurd and offensive. It's using the courts to delay and mess with the timely arrival of competitors' products to market. It'd be like patenting wedge-shaped laptops just to mess with the Asus Zenbook and HP Spectre XT...OH WAIT THEY DID THAT TOO.

Ultrabooks beware: Apple receives broad patent on MacBook Air wedge design | The Verge

The difference is that the first was a very specific issue (clicking links to initiate an action). This is a blanket ban, which is much more onerous and therefore has a higher standard before an injunction is usually granted.

[weegie]

And the Galaxy S3 may come in for some special apple legal love yet as well.
Apple may seek to stop U.S. launch of Galaxy phone | Reuters