Apple sues HTC for patent infringement

Apple, today issued a lawsuit against HTC today for patent infringement. At least 20 iPhone patents here in the United States. Of those patents, a few of them stuck out as awkward, or interesting, some of which are highlighted below.

• "Time-Based, Non-Constant Translation Of User Interface Objects Between States"
• "Touch Screen Device, Method, And Graphical User Interface For Determining Commands By Applying Heuristics"
• "Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image"
• "List Scrolling And Document Translation, Scaling, And Rotation On A Touch-Screen Display"
• "System And Method For Managing Power Conditions Within A Digital Camera Device"
• "Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices"
• "GMSK Signal Processors For Improved Communications Capacity And Quality"
• "Conserving Power By Reducing Voltage Supplied To An Instruction-Processing Portion Of A Processor"
• "Object-Oriented Graphic System"
• "Object-Oriented Event Notification System With Listener Registration Of Both Interests And Methods"

One interesting notion here, HTC makes both Windows Mobile (Windows Phone) and Android devices, in Windows Mobile for example, the lock screen allows you to slide the button left and right, not something HTC has done. In this case, why aren’t they going after Microsoft as well?

In a statement, CEO Steve Jobs noted,

"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it," said Jobs. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

In HTC’s defense,

“HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple’s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC.”