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HTC may back out of S3 buy after legal defeat

HTC is feeling a little buyer's remorse.

The Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer said today that it would reconsider its planned acquisition of S3 Graphics, according to Bloomberg.

The value of S3 is debatable after the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Apple did not violate its patents and terminated the investigation, dealing HTC a critical blow. HTC had intended for S3's patents to provide it with some legal cover in its ongoing court battle with Apple over intellectual property related to features found in touchscreen smartphones.

"We view this as a negative sign for HTC, which will now … Read more

S3 Graphics' case against Apple collapses at ITC

The U.S. International Trade Commission today said that Apple is not violating patents held by S3 Graphics in its products and is terminating its investigation on the matter.

The decision follows a mixed ruling in July, where an ITC judge found Apple to be infringing on two of S3 Graphics' patents, while not infringing on two others. A final decision on the matter was due last week, with the ITC electing to postpone it (PDF) until today for reasons unknown.

"Having examined the record of this investigation, including the administrative law judge's final ID and the submissions … Read more

HP wins latest inkjet cartridge patent suit

HP has won its latest patent infringement suit against several manufacturers who were producing their own HP-compatible inkjet cartridges and printheads.

In a ruling issued Monday (PDF), the U.S. International Trade Commission found that certain HP patents for inkjet cartridges and printheads had been violated by companies making and supplying their own copycat versions.

Specifically, the ITC agreed with its own earlier determination that Asia Pacific Microsystems (APM), a subsidiary of Taiwan-based United Microelectronics, infringed HP patents by making and selling inkjet printheads. The ITC also ruled that MicroJet Technology and PTC Holdings Limited both violated HP's patents … Read more

HTC dealt a setback in Apple patent battle

Apple didn't infringe on four of HTC's patents, according to an initial ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission's administrative law judge.

The administrative law judge ruling, which is essentially a recommendation to the ITC's judges, found "no violation" by Apple, Reuters reported. A final ruling by the ITC is expected in February.

The ruling is just one component of an increasingly complex set of complaints and lawsuits between Apple and HTC filed in multiple courts and employing several different patents. The four HTC patents in this case, for instance, don't include … Read more

ITC to investigate HTC complaint against Apple

The U.S. International Trade Commission announced today that its members have voted to begin an investigation on HTC's behalf into whether Apple infringes on HTC's intellectual property with its mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

HTC first filed its complaint, the latest against the Cupertino, Calif.-based consumer electronics giant, last month, saying Apple was infringing on two of its patents. The Taiwanese handset manufacturer seeks to halt the importation of Apple products into the U.S., as well as compensatory damages, and three times the normal damages for willful infringement.

As the ITC noted in a press releaseRead more

HTC sues Apple using Google patents, report says

HTC fired another legal salvo against Apple, but this time it's armed with patents it received from Google, according to Bloomberg.

HTC employed nine patents that originally came from Palm, Motorola, and Openwave Systems, which Google bought within the past year, Bloomberg said, citing U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records. Google transferred the patents to HTC on September 1.

The latest lawsuit marks Google's strongest show of support for its Android partners. Apple has levied multiple lawsuits against Android supporters including HTC, Motorola Mobility, and Samsung Electronics in a bid to halt their momentum in the increasingly … Read more

Apple and RIM targeted by Openwave in patent suit

Cell phone software maker Openwave Systems has taken aim at Apple and Research In Motion for infringing on its intellectual property.

The Redwood City, Calif.-based company today filed a complaint (PDF) with the International Trade Commission, as well as a lawsuit in the federal district court in Delaware, accusing Apple and RIM of infringing on five of its patents that cover technologies related to Web browsing, cloud computing, wireless networking, and using e-mail while offline.

In its complaint, which was reported earlier today by Bloomberg, Openwave takes aim at Apple's iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod Touch, … Read more

HTC sues Apple, again

HTC has filed another lawsuit against Apple alleging patent infringement, escalating their legal battle.

Reuters reported today that the Taiwanese handset manufacturer filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Delaware, claiming that Apple is violating two patents by selling its line of Mac computers, iPads, iPods, iPhones and other devices. HTC is seeking to halt the importation of Apple products into the U.S., and is seeking compensatory damages, as well as three times the normal damages for willful infringement.

HTC filed a similar complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission. The agency has the power … Read more

Google seeks sanction against Microsoft expert in ITC case

Google has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to keep one of Microsoft's expert witnesses from testifying in the software giant's ongoing legal fracas with Motorola, alleging that the witness has seen the source code for its Android operating system.

In a motion filed with the ITC yesterday, and picked up by PaidContent today, Google seeks to keep Microsoft-hired expert Robert Stevenson from testifying, saying that he's seen the Android source code, which remains confidential. Furthermore, Google says it never gave Stevenson permission to view the code, something that's required as part of the case'… Read more

ITC judge in Kodak vs. Apple, RIM case retires

A decision from the U.S. International Trade Commission on whether Apple and Research In Motion are infringing on a patent held by Eastman Kodak could face additional delays and a new outcome following the planned retirement of the judge who was presiding over the case.

The Wall Street Journal reports that ITC Chief Administrative Law Judge Paul Luckern retired from the agency today, and that cases he was presiding over--including this one--have now been reassigned to other administrative law judges.

The Journal notes that Luckern has worked as an administrative law judge with the agency since 1984 and was … Read more