The US International Trade Commission issued its final ruling in the FlashPoint patent dispute case, siding with HTC. According to the court documents, the trade commission did not find that any of HTC’s Android or Windows Phone 7 handsets infringe on FlashPoint’s 769 patent.
FlashPoint filed its initial dispute against HTC with the ITC back in July of 2010, claiming that HTC knowingly infringed on its digital camera related patent. Earlier this summer, HTC was give a dose of good news when the ITC’s preliminary ruling by one judge found that HTC’s products were in the clear. The final verdict which was delivered yesterday indicates that the full ITC panel has sided with HTC.
It’s nice to know that HTC will be available without any added licensing fees. If the ITC had ruled in FlashPoint’s favor, HTC would have been forced to agree to a licensing agreement with them in order to keep HTC handsets on the U.S. market.
[quote]The Commission has determined to affirm the judge’s determination of no violation of Section 337 with respect to the ’769 patent on the bases that (1) the accused HTC Android smartphones and the accused HTC Windows Phone 7 (WP7) smartphones do not infringe the ’769 patent, and (2) respondent has established that it has an implied license to practice the ’769 patent with respect to the accused WP7 smartphones,[/quote]Source: ITC via The Register
