The high court has chucked out all of Apple’s patent claims against HTC in the UK, refusing to accept that three out of the four Apple patents put forward in the case were even valid at all, and finding that the fourth patent, which was valid, wasn’t infringed by HTC. So it’s all clear for HTC’s Android plans in the UK.
The judge ruled that Apple’s key “Slide to Unlock” feature was too “obvious” a system to be allowed to stand as a claim. Here’s HTC on the latest turn in this tedious global legal battle:
“Today, the English High Court found that three of four patents claimed by Apple to be infringed by HTC were invalid, and that HTC did not infringe the fourth. One of the invalidated patents is Apple’s flagship ‘slide to unlock’ patent. Apple’s photo management patent was found not to be infringed.
“HTC is pleased with the ruling, which provides further confirmation that Apple’s claims against HTC are without merit.
“We remain disappointed that Apple continues to favour competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace.”
The case also included the multi-touch system, which Android makers seemed terrified to implement in the early days of Google’s OS, with judge Mr Justice Floyd finding, again, that HTC’s use of the system was absolutely fine.
So it’s ALL SYSTEMS GO for HTC and Android, apart from in Germany. And the Netherlands. And the US. Apart from that, though, ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO.
Link via the Telegraph.
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Dom Finn
/ July 4, 2012Yay! A sensible decision!
Chris
/ July 4, 2012Dear apple Foxtrot Oscar
MetalMickey
/ July 4, 2012Finally the UK gives Apple a clip round the ear & sends them on their way. What are other courts so scared of? Anyone can see this is desperation stakes, litigation due to lack of innovation. If they put this much effort into their phones, they wouldn’t be churning out the same old tosh tear after year.
Anton Gully
/ July 5, 2012Brussels > English High Court.
This isn’t over yet.
Stuart Halliday
/ July 9, 2012After all that work HTC did to swap the slide to a ring too…
Still, IMHO the ring is nicer.