Apple’s patent suit against HTC, filed Tuesday with the International Trade Commission, is just the latest in a string of technology-related complaints filed with the government agency. The trend shows the increasing importance of the ITC.
Apple alleges that Taiwan-based HTC infringes on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone’s graphical user interface, architecture and hardware. The company is seeking a permanent injunction barring HTC from importing infringing phones into the U.S. Apple is also seeking triple damages and maximum interest.
Apple sued in the U.S. District Court in Delaware concurrently with bringing the ITC action.
A Warning To Others
The complaint serves as fair warning that Apple will attack other competitors it believes are stealing its intellectual property. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced, “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. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”
It’s a message that Apple has been putting out for several years. In 2007, Jobs said, “We’ve been pushing the state of the art in every facet of design. … We’ve been innovating like crazy for the last few years on this and we’ve filed for over 200 patents for all of the inventions in iPhone. And we intend to protect them.”
Last year, Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said during a conference call, “We like competition, as long as they don’t rip off our IP, and if they do, we’re going to go after anybody that does. … We think competition is good; it makes us all better. But we’re ready to suit up and go against anyone.”
Fast-Track Relief
But suing in the overwhelmed federal courts has become too slow a process for many technology companies. Apple…