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HTC completes workaround to get past Apple's patent ban

HTC said it was pleased with a recent patent infringement ruling from the ITC, because it involves a simple UI element that was easy to fix. It appears the company was not exaggerating as the workaround is already completed.

HTC infringed patent (#5,946,647) which describes a "system and method [which] causes a computer to detect and perform actions on structures identified in computer data." In a nutshell, it's describes a method to select an item like an email address or a phone number and launch the appropriate application. The patent doesn't cover the idea, but the exact method used in iOS.

HTC has until April 2012 to apply this fix to its handsets, and the company is already testing it for compliance. If all goes well, future handsets will likely ship with the fix already in place. Google chimed in on this ruling and confirmed the decision will not affect any core parts of the Android operating system. It's a "user interface feature" which can be fixed easily. This is terrific news for Android handset makers who probably won't have to go toe-to-toe with Apple in a legal battle over this patent.

[Via HTC Source and WSJ]



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iPhone iOS

HTC said it was pleased with a recent patent infringement ruling from the ITC, because it involves a simple UI element that was easy...
 

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samsonsu

"system and method [which] causes a computer to detect and perform actions on structures identified in computer data."

...

December 21 2011 at 3:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Henri Laukka

This whole patent war and the pettiness involved is really getting on my nerves. Don't phone manufacturers really have any other means to compete with each other than to squabble over minor UI elements? Like kids competing whose sandcastle copies features from the other. Makes me sick.

December 21 2011 at 2:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Henri Laukka's comment
makellan

That's MY red bucket shape!

December 21 2011 at 4:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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