Apple’s legal case against HTC – in which they allege the smartphone manufacturer impinged on their intellectual property with various Android and Windows Mobile based handsets – has been green-lighted by the US International Trade Commission (ITC). The decision means that, within the next 45 days, the ITC must announce a date by which it expects to have come to a conclusion over whether HTC did, in fact, infringe Apple patents; if it finds in Apple’s favor, HTC could be forced to block functionality in their devices or even barred from importing them into the US altogether.
As for the likely timescale of that decision date, given the magnitude of the case it’s likely to be measured in months rather than anything more immediate. Once a ruling is made, it must be enacted on within 60 days; however, HTC would likely file an appeal which could further delay things.
Ironically, the news comes after Apple themselves have been made the subject of a legal case for ITC investigation, over allegations that they have impinged on the multitouch patents of another company. Elan Microelectronics are looking to freeze imports of Apple’s multitouch-based products – including the iPhone, iPod touch, Magic Mouse and imminent iPad – if they can persuade the ITC that Apple have overstepped onto their intellectual property.