The “Apple – HTC” Tug Of War

Recently InfoSec department is at the peak. Yeah, with the number of IP (Intellectual Property) wars rising day to day, security is at stake and providing security is at the crest. The top news among these IP conflicts is the APPLE-HTC tug of war. Yup, this is really a tug of war since both the companies are suing each other unlike traditional IP wars where only one company sues the other.

Clearly Apple is leading with certain advantages in this war. Out of the many cases filed against HTC two of them were proved and HTC has been declared guilty by ITC (International Trade Commission).

If the current scenario continues then HTC is at grave danger. Yes, research says that HTC may be banned from sales in U.S.A. This will cause a major downfall for HTC since U.S.A is the place where 50% of HTC products are sold.

With such a disadvantage in its kitty HTC wants to move on to off the court settlement with Apple or in other terms negotiations.

Apple which is comfortably at the top position with no proven IP issues will certainly not agree to these negotiations. However Apple infringed two patent issues with S3 graphics which is now owned by HTC. This S3 graphics will be the savior for HTC since it’s their only weapon to bring Apple into negotiations.

Apple which is unhappy with the booming Droid market has sued the Google’s Android which is used by HTC, LG, Motorola etc. Google may claim its new and young in the market thus not sure about the patents but Apple will not be satisfied with such excuses.

Apple – the don of smartphones has sued many companies highest being HTC with 20 different patent issues in a single year.

There seems to be no other means of judgment favoring HTC other than negotiations. How well the result of this negotiation turns out depends on the tactics of Apple and HTC.

All the patent issues are about different parts and features of the iPhone. While on one side we are happy seeing different smartphones on the flip side there are lot of unsaid issues hidden beneath these enticing smartphones.

HTC which is facing Apple at the court currently is totally defenseless except for the S3 Graphics which is the faintest light appearing in the darkest tunnel.

With almost all companies such as Nokia, Apple, LG, Motorola, Samsung, HTC, etc suing each other the end of these IP wars is totally ambiguous. Whether HTC will clear its charges or will Apple be held guilty about HTC claims? Or will HTC-Apple befriend one another will all be known in course of time.

The Tsinghua University experts are the one playing a major role in the research about the patent rights, the negotiations, predictions and guesses on who will win. They have clearly predicted that the current war is more favorable to Apple (even after the S3 Graphics case).

Will Apple accept to negotiations…? Will this tug of war end? Let’s wait and watch.