Mobile technology has
been a hotbed of patent litigation in recent years, with Apple Inc, Microsoft
Corp, HTC Corp, Motorola, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Nokia locked in legal
battles over the property rights to scrolling on multi touch screens, product designs
and - in lawsuits aimed at Google Inc's Android - the operating system on
mobile devices.
In Steve Jobs'
posthumous biography, he was quoted as saying that Google "ripped
off" the iPhone, and he was "willing to go thermonuclear" on the
Android operating system. His battle has continued beyond his death.Here is where the major
U.S. cases stand.
1.Nokia vs. Apple
- In October 2009,
Finnish handset maker Nokia Corp sued Apple Inc in U.S. District Court in
Delaware over alleged infringement of its wireless standards. T he iPhone maker
countersued and kept the two embroiled in litigation for a year and a half.
In June 2011, Apple
agreed to pay an undisclosed sum as part of a settlement agreement and
royalties for the use of parts of Nokia's patents. However, Nokia's business
has faltered as it continues to struggle in the Smartphone market, with its
stock tumbling to all-time lows in 2012.
2.Apple vs. Android
- Apple initiated the
war against Android in March 2010 when it sued Taiwan's HTC Corp over 20 patents
dealing with user interface and its operating system. Along with its federal
lawsuit, Apple filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission,
again targeting the Android software behind HTC's Smartphone.
The International Trade
Commission issued an injunction in late 2011 to halt imports of HTC's
infringing Smartphones -- the One X and the EVO 4G LTE -- starting in April.
Shipments of the two Smartphones to the United States were delayed. Apple has
filed at least two additional complaints with the International Trade
Commission dema ending emergency action against more than 25 HTC devices.
Over the past 14 months,
HTC shares have slumped 72 percent, while Apple shares have gained 65 percent.
In May, the U.S.
District Court in Delaware ordered HTC and Apple to meet and discuss a
potential settlement on Aug. 28.
- Motorola Mobility
entered the battlefield in October 2010 when it filed a suit against Apple in
what was widely considered a pre-emptive strike. Apple countersued the same
month.
However, Judge Richard
Posner in Chicago canceled the trial that was set to occur in June, and
rejected each side's injunction requests. Motorola was acquired by Google in
May 2012.
- South Korea-based
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd found its way to U.S. court in April 2011 when Apple
claimed the manufacturer infringed on patents with some Galaxy phones and
tablets, which use the Android system. Samsung countersued, and the two
companies have become entangled in more than 20 cases in 10 countries.
U.S. District Judge Lucy
Koh in San Jose, California, g ranted pretrial injunctions against the Galaxy
Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy Nexus phone last week, just days after Posner rejected
Apple's injunction request against Motorola.
Samsung is appealing
both injunctions. A trial on the patent infringement claims related to the Tab
10.1 and other phones is scheduled for July 30.
3.Microsoft vs. Android
- Microsoft Corp filed
an International Trade Commission complaint against Motorola in October 2010 for
infringing nine patents. Motorola responded the next month with its own ITC
complaint against Microsoft for infringing 16 patents.
In May, the U.S. trade
panel ordered an import ban on 18 infringing Motorola devices, which has not
yet taken effect.
Copyright Thomson
Reuters 2012
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