HTC Sues Apple Over Patents Infringed by Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPods

HTC Corporation is suing Apple Inc. alleging that the Cupertino giant’s Mac computers, iPhone, iPad and iPod players are infringing on several key patents owned by the Taiwanese smartphone maker.

HTC this week filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. District Court of Delaware for patent infringement by Apple's product lines.

The patents at the heart of the complaint cover a range of functions that can be found in Macintosh computers, the iPhone, Apple’s iPad tablet computer, and the iPod media players.

These functions are labeled as being “essential to user experience” by HTC.

One such function is the Wi-Fi capability of Apple’s computers and portables that allow users to wirelessly network multiple devices in various conditions and settings.

Another feature concerns processor communication technology. This, according to HTC’s patents, “enables a seamless integration of a PDA and a cellular phone into a single device providing users with a true smartphone experience.”

"We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners, and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones," said Grace Lei, general counsel, HTC Corporation.

"This is the 3rd case before the ITC in which Apple is infringing our intellectual property.  Apple needs to stop its infringement of our patented inventions in its products."

The patents cited in the suit are:

 - 7,765,414: Circuit and operating method for integrated interface of PDA and wireless communication system
 - 7,672,219: Multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
 - 7,417,944: Method for orderwire modulation

Apple’s legal department has been extremely busy lately, either defending its employer or attacking others on its behalf.

Apple’s attorneys are also embroiled in a battle with Samsung trying to prevent sales of the Korean company’s smartphones and tablet computers in Europe citing blatant copying of design elements found in the iPhone and iPad product lines.