ITC Investigates Apple's Lawsuit Against HTC

 

The ITC has finally agreed to investigate Apple’s complaint against HTC. The whole process will be long and gruesome and it doesn’t indicate which way the ITC might eventually rule, but an Apple victory could possibly mean a US ban of HTC phones.

The lawsuit is an accusation of patent theft and a ruling against HTC would likely have broader implications that would affect the rest of the industry as well. Within the next forty-five days, the ITC will set a target date for when the investigation will be complete. With a case of this large-scale magnitude, it would be likely months from now. Any actionable ruling would have to be implemented within sixty days of that ruling.

If it came down to a large-scale ban, it would have to be implemented by the courts, and is probably unlikely. If it does happen though, we are sure they will have to pry the HTC Evo 4G’s out of the hands of many American consumers.

The official report can be found below:

USITC INSTITUTES SECTION 337 INVESTIGATION ON CERTAIN PERSONAL DATA AND MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES AND RELATED SOFTWARE

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain personal data and mobile communications devices and related software. The products at issue in this investigation relate to hardware and software used in mobile communication devices, including but not limited to cellular phones and smartphones.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Apple Inc., f/k/a Apple Computer, Inc. and NeXt Software, Inc. f/k/a NeXt Computer, Inc., both of Cupertino, CA, on March 2, 2010. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain personal data and mobile communications devices and related software that infringe patents asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue an exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:

High Tech Computer Corp. a/k/a HTC Corp. of Taiwan;
HTC America, Inc., of Bellevue, WA; and
Exedea, Inc., of Houston, TX.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-710), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's six administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.

The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.