HTC One Sales Banned in Netherlands Over Using Nokia’s High Amplitude Mics

This could be potentially interesting, Nokia have been granted a “preliminary injunction” on sales of the HTC One in Netherlands due to HTC “borrowing” Nokia’s High Amplitude Microphone module without their permission. Not only have HTC used the module without licensing it from Nokia, but apparently the module itself was developed under NDA by ST Electronics for exclusive use by Nokia.

Should Nokia pursue this further it’s possible that the One might be banned from other stores/countries; unless the two reach an agreement, in the mean time Nokia have issue this public statement:

“The Amsterdam District Court has today granted Nokia’s request for a preliminary injunction against the supply to HTC of microphone components invented by and manufactured exclusively for Nokia.

Nokia filed this action after it discovered these components in the HTC One; HTC has no license or authorization from Nokia to use these microphones or the Nokia technologies from which they have been developed.

In its marketing materials, HTC claims that its HDR microphone is a key feature for the HTC One, but it is Nokia technology, developed exclusively for use in Nokia products.

This is one of the latest in a number of cases brought by Nokia to end HTC’s unauthorized use of Nokia’s inventions. More than 40 Nokia patents have been asserted against HTC in Germany, the US and the UK. An injunction against HTC devices in Germany, which were found on March 19 to infringe Nokia’s patent EP 0 673 175, is now in effect. The latest case, on Nokia patent EP 1 579 613 B1 was filed in Mannheim, Germany on April 16.

Once again, Nokia calls on HTC to compete using its own innovations and to stop copying from Nokia.”

Sounds very harsh and straight forward, ripping at HTC’s claims and telling them to “stop copying”; in return HTC have responded saying:

“HTC is disappointed in the decision. We are considering whether it will have any impact on our business and we will explore alternative solutions immediately.”

It seems that the one time HTC got their phone right it had to come from Nokia, I’m not very surprised to be honest.

Source

Category: Nokia, Windows Phone