HTC fix to avoid US smartphone ban already being tested

Rich Fiscus
21 Dec 2011 10:21

With the ink barely dry on the ITC order to ban their Android smartphones found to be infringing on an Apple patent, HTC announced a workaround.
As we pointed out yesterday, HTC can avoid the ban entirely by removing the infringing (Android) code related to the patent. That code is what allows a user to select a piece of information and use it in an app such as the dialer or Google Maps.
Speaking to the media, and joined by Google Senior Vice President Andy Rubin, HTC's Peter Chou announced that the company is already testing new phones which work around the patented technology. He also criticized Apple, saying [via Reuters]:

This industry should not allow one company use its powerful weapon to stop other innovation and take it all...this is not fair.

In reality all Apple has accomplished is forcing Google, along with HTC and their other partners, to spend more money to ensure Android devices can continue to include features they already have. The irony is it is probably costing Apple just as much as anyone else.
In fact, it's probably fair to say HTC's business will be impacted more by competition from both Apple and Samsung than by any Apple lawsuit. If there's a big loser in all this, it's consumers who will pay more to cover the cost of the lawsuits and be forced to wait for new technology while Android developers are forced to reinvent the wheel.