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iPhone: Article

ITC Throws Out S3 Complaint Against Apple

The ITC, which can bar imports, did not explain its decision
By Maureen O'Gara
Article Rating:
November 29, 2011 07:00 AM EST
Reads:
 1,526

The US International Trade Commission has overruled one of its own administrative law judges, who thought the Mac tread on S3's IP, and threw out an S3 Graphics patent complaint against Apple's Macs, iPad and iPhone, saying it has no case.

HTC of course is buying S3 for $300 million ostensibly for patent protection. Now it looks like that was a dumb idea; its patents may not be valid or the IP may belong to AMD.

The ITC, which can bar imports, did not explain its decision.

HTC says it may appeal.

Bloomberg expects the decision to put pressure on HTC's shares.

Apple has lodged a complaint or two against HTC with the ITC and so far HTC has been found to infringe two valid Apple patents.

Bloomberg says Monday's decision is the "first time the six-member commission has ruled on one of the dozen cases at the agency stemming from the battle for the smartphone market."

S3 has another case pending against Apple and HTC has two of its own, including one involving patents gotten from Google.

Published November 29, 2011 – Reads 1,526
Copyright © 2011 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
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More Stories By Maureen O'Gara

Maureen O'Gara the most read technology reporter for the past 20 years, is the Cloud Computing and Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025. Twitter: @MaureenOGara

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