Apple Sues HTC: Battle Over Android Begins

By Sarah Pierce

Don’t mess with Steve Jobs. The Apple CEO released a statement Tuesday in a press release (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/03/02patents.html) announcing Apple’s lawsuit against mobile phone maker HTC for allegedly infringing on 20 different iPhone-related patents. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours,” said Jobs, who has promised in the past to defend its patents at any cost.

In the lawsuit, Apple claims HTC copied patents that relate to the iPhone’s interface, hardware and underlying architecture. Over 12 HTC cell phones are named in the 700-page lawsuit, but it’s very clear that Apple is specifically going after Google Android. HTC, if you didn’t know, is one of the largest manufacturers of Android handsets. By going for the jugular of the biggest Android manufacturer, Apple is essentially letting all Android cell phone makers (and Google) know they mean business.

HTC has yet to release an official statement, but this is sure to be the beginning of a major PR war.

Updated March 5th, 2010