Tech Armageddon continues, and now the ITC (International Trade Commission) will be launching an investigation against Apple Computer Corp. over disputes brought by HTC earlier this year. TechCrunch reports (by way of BusinessWeek) a basic description of the patents in question as:
The patents in the ITC case relate to an interface that lets the user add identifiers such as .com or .org; an interface that enlarges characters being typed; a way to display information on mobile devices; and status bars that let a user check phone calls, text messages or calendar events.
The investigation itself goes well beyond the smartphone arena -- the ITC states it will cover "computers, tablet computers, and smartphones." It's worth noting that some of the patents in question were granted to HTC by Google, who so far has stayed out of the current tech courtroom drama it's OEM's are involved in.
As always, it's the consumer who will be the biggest loser here. Licensing agreements will be worked out, and that cost will be funneled down to all of us. It's a war with no winners.
Source: ITC; via Tech Crunch
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