Ok… Before anyone hoots and hollers about how awesome Apple is… I want to set the record straight that I am a Mac owner! So please, no comments that Justin Long rules.
The news that Apple sued HTC is no big surprise. After all, HTC is a huge player in manufacturing high end android-based mobile devices. The suit claims infringement of 20 patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture, and hardware. Is it possible that this suit is a subtle jab to the ribs to Google? HTC and Google have been in kahoots for some time, launching the G1, the myTouch, and the Nexus. These phones have proved to be a good competition against the iPhone, and surprisingly the lawsuit isn’t over the iPhone’s multi-touch screen.
So is this a taste of things to come? Is the natural progression of mobile phone innovation patented? Where would Coke be without it’s Pepsi? Dr. Pepper with Mr. Pibb? (Or in my case “Dr. Smooth”. It’s the generic version sold at my grocery store.) Doesn’t a being in competitive marketplace fuel new ideas and concepts to make consumer products better? In my opinion, if Apple is able to sue every phone that has elements similar to the iPhone then the mobile innovation has had it’s reins pulled! 