06
Jun
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Apple Renews ITC Complaint Against HTC For Data Tapping, Now Says Android Itself Infringes With Long-Press URL Dialogues

Posted by in Android OS, HTC, Legal, News

Apple has filed a new complaint with the ITC against HTC over the same data-tapping patent that caused a substantial disruption of HTC's supply line into the United States, and resulted in delayed or stifled launches for a number of phones.

After removing the multi-option dialogue that appeared upon pressing a phone number in an email or webpage from its devices, HTC proclaimed it was clear of Apple's patent on data-tapping techniques. Apple seems to think they're wrong - and is now claiming that a core Android functionality (long-press URL action prompting a multi-selection dialogue) is infringing on the patent.

29
May
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HTC: Customs Review Complete, AT&T One X And Sprint EVO 4G LTE Released, Future Shipments Should Be Free To Enter US

Posted by in EVO 4G LTE (Jewel), HTC, Legal, News, One X (Endeavor)

Official word from HTC on the customs review of its smartphones is that the process has been completed (confirmed for the EVO 4G LTE, AT&T One X). The review was the result of an Apple lawsuit at the ITC for patenting infringement, which culminated in the issuance of an exclusion order for all HTC smartphones entering the US. The statement, below:

“HTC has completed the review process with US Customs and HTC devices have been released, as they are in compliance with the ITC’s ruling. Future shipments should continue to enter the US and we are confident that we will soon be able to meet the demand for our products.”

HTC has been deliberately vague here, so it's hard to say exactly what is meant by "completed the review process." While HTC did confirm that the EVO 4G LTE and AT&T One X had been cleared, it provided details for no other potentially affected hardware.

18
May
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Microsoft Wins Order To Ban Import Of (Some) Undisclosed Motorola Android Smartphones Into US

Posted by in Android OS, Legal, Motorola, News

According to an exclusion order issued by the ITC, some of Motorola Mobility's smartphone devices are in violation of four claims in a Microsoft patent related to scheduling meetings in a calendar. The specifics really aren't important - basically, the ITC found that Motorola infringed a Microsoft patent related to mobile software for creating and sending meeting invitations.

Motorola and Google had argued that an exclusionary order banning the import of offending Motorola devices wasn't in the public interest, but the judge didn't buy it. More importantly, it's unclear exactly which Motorola devices fall under the scope of the exclusionary order, which should go into effect roughly 60 days from now.

19
Dec
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ITC Rules For Apple, Bans Import Of "Some" HTC Phones Into US: Why You Shouldn't Care

Posted by in HTC, Legal, News

The blogosphere is currently aflutter with talk of the ITC (International Trade Commission) patent infringement decision in favor of Apple, and the resulting court order banning the import of infringing HTC devices starting April 19, 2012 (4 months from now). The ITC ruled that HTC infringed on two, relatively narrow claims in a patent related to "data tapping" that occurs at the system level in Android.

You know how your phone can automatically "see" an address or phone number on a web page or e-mail and send you to the appropriate app? That's what the ITC claims HTC, and by relation Android, is infringing on.

16
Nov
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Did Samsung Launch A New (German) Galaxy Tab 10.1 To Avoid Infringement Of Apple's iPad Design? Sure Looks Like It

Posted by in Galaxy Tab 10.1, Legal, News, Samsung

Now, this all based on one German online retailer (where imports of the Tab 10.1 were banned), but it's very interesting nonetheless. It appears that a new version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been launched in Germany, called the Tab 10.1N. The difference? So far, all we see is a re-designed bezel and the fact that it's now shipping with Android 3.2. Take a look at this comparison shot from Mobiflip:

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The Tab 10.1N is above, and the old Tab 10.1 is below. And below that is an iPad 2. If you look at the bezel design, the Tab 10.1 originale has a bezel more similar to the iPad 2 - a very minimal metal frame along the edges.