HTC seems to be in a bit of trouble over here in the UK, as yesterday a court ruled that the flagship HTC One, among other devices, infringes on Nokia's mobile network standards patent and could face a ban from being sold in the country.
HTC fought the lawsuit by attempting to get Nokia's patent declared invalid but yesterday the judge, Sir Richard David Arnold, ruled that the patent was valid and infringed by HTC. The mobile network standards patent describes a “modulator structure for a transmitter and a mobile station”.
Now that Nokia has won, Nokia spokesperson, Mark Durrant, revealed the phone maker's next step to PCworld: “Nokia will now seek an injunction against the import and sale of infringing HTC products in the U.K. as well as financial compensation.” HTC is going to appeal the ruling so it's not quite down and out yet.
This is just one of many patent rulings against HTC in the last 12 months. In the US last year the company was found to have infringed on two patents relating to tablets and mobiles, while in Germany this year Nokia won an injunction over a power saving patent infringement.
KitGuru Says: The patent wars are never fun for consumers, it limits the choices we have as customers and puts a limit on what phone makers can do to make our handsets better. The HTC One is still a very popular phone and by far one of the best choices out there right now, but if it ends up being banned it'll be a win for Nokia, no one else.
Source: PCworld