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Gadgets Apple and HTC Organize a Truce, Sign 10-Year Licensing Pact
Brandon Hill (Blog) - November 11, 2012 3:31 PM

33 comment(s) - last by TakinYourPoint.. on Nov 12 at 10:06 PM

Apple, HTC kiss and make up

Before his death, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs stated that he was willing to go "thermonuclear" on Google and the manufacturers that produce devices running Android OS. It appears that current Apple CEO Tim Cook, however, is taking a softer approach on the warfront.

Apple and HTC have been in and out of court for years, battling over smartphone patents. Most recently, Apple lost its bid to ban HTC's One X and EVO 4G LTE over its claim of infringement on a "data tapping" patent. However, both companies announced yesterday that the two companies have reached a settlement on all pending litigation. All current lawsuits are being tossed and the two companies have entered into a ten-year licensing agreement.

^{Apple CEO Tim Cook [Image Source: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg]}

“HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation,” said HTC CEO Peter Chou.

“We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation.”

The terms of the agreement are confidential.

^{HTC CEO Peter Chou [Image Source: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg]}

HTC has been taking on water in recent months, and has seen an erosion of profits as Samsung has strengthened its position in the smartphone market.

HTC has also made drastic cuts to its research and development programs while also scaling back its marketing efforts. Perhaps Apple just doesn't see much of a threat from HTC anymore, and was more willing to make a deal.

Apple still has a hard-on for Samsung, so we doubt that the boys from Cupertino will be reaching any licensing agreements with that South Korean electronics giant any time soon.

Source: Apple

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RE: What innovation?

By StevoLincolnite on 11/11/2012 10:03:21 PM , Rating: 2

Apple could have decided to cut it's losses because HTC did acquire S3 graphics which has decades worth of graphics I.P under it's hood, most notably S3 texture compression which Apple didn't license.

It's a more credible I.P than a shape anyway.

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RE: What innovation?

By GulWestfale on 11/11/12, Rating: 0

RE: What innovation?

By FaaR on 11/12/2012 12:45:48 AM , Rating: 2

Apple doesn't need to license S3TC because Apple doesn't invent or manufacture graphics processors.

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RE: What innovation?

By StevoLincolnite on 11/12/2012 6:06:30 AM , Rating: 3

No. But it makes API's and if it wants S3 texture compression in it's graphics API's they must license it, hence why Microsoft license's it due to Direct X.

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"Can anyone tell me what MobileMe is supposed to do?... So why the f*** doesn't it do that?" -- Steve Jobs