News today that Apple and the major Taiwanese smartphone company HTC have reached a settlement in their long-running patent battle. Apple had won several important rounds, including a patent judgment in the U.S. International Trade Commission that enjoined HTC from importing into the U.S. several of its popular phones.
Now HTC can get back to business. But notice that the terms of its licensing deal with Apple are secret. So watch closely. Will HTC re-emerge as a vigorous competitor in the smartphone market, as it was before the ITC ruling? Or has Apple succeeded in imposing on HTC such a significant “patent tax” that its competitive vigor will be reduced?
Time will tell.
Published on November 11, 2012 10:16