HTC bites into Apple as legal battle looms

HTC today fired its first salvo in what is bound to be a corker of a patent war against Apple.
Apple launched the first strike against HTC – and by proxy Google – on March 2 when it filed a law suit against the Taiwanese manufacturer with both the US District Court and the International Trade Commission alleging HTC had infringed on 20 of its patents.
Apple’s filing included some 7000 pages of documentation, proving just how seriously the Cupertino firm is taking the joint HTC Android threat. Indeed, the vast majority of the devices listed in the lawsuit as infringing Apple’s copyright run Android, making this – some would argue – a barely disguised stab at Google and its OS.
Up until Wednesday, legal beagles from both firms had been amassing documents and preparing their ammunition for battle, with HTC even building its own case against Apple.
HTC finally made its move, filing its case with the International Trade commission, asking for no less than a ban on the importation and sale of the iPhone, iPad and iPod in the United States for – you guessed it – infringing on five of HTC’s own patents.
While to outsiders it may seem like this could end up being just another protracted and expensive court case, a battle to the death of one firm against the other, it may actually simply result in a joint licensing agreement where both firms eventually agree to retract the fangs and let go.
Indeed many analysts are seeing the legal play for play as a rather clever negotiating tactic which will eventually maneuver both sides into making a deal and signing an agreement.
That being said, knowing how much Apple loves a good lawsuit, this could get much, much uglier before we see a solution.