[OPINION] Apple suing HTC is bad for consumers, Android or otherwise

March 4, 2010 | by Chris Smith

I am sure that most if not all of our readers have heard about the recent Apple, Inc. lawsuit against mobile handset maker and Android pundit HTC. The 20 different patents that Apple is protecting can be torn apart, criticized, mocked, whatever but the real issue at hand is Apple is trying to destroy any smartphone competition in the United States.

Apple now seeing the recent boom in Android adoption is trying to protect its iPhone sales without having to innovate at a faster pace. The only way to do this is to use their patents, some of which are questionable, to take out the competition. I would be very surprised if HTC or Android actually “stole” technologies that Apple created. It seems to me that Android, Palm’s webOS, Windows Mobile/Phone, Symbian, as well as the iPhone OS have moved the idea of modern smartphone interfaces forward. In my opinion none of the ideas are revolutionary, only more of an evolution of the way a smartphone works and therefore should not be patentable.

If you think that Apple is going to stop at HTC you are mistaken. If Apple sets a precedent with the HTC case in the USA they are going to take out device manufacturers that sell in the US one-by-one. Not only will this decrease smartphone competition, it will make smartphones more expensive and most innovation in the space will go away because of the increase cost to enter the mobile device space. If very simple ideas are protected under patent (slide to unlock) the cost of coming up with new ideas that go around the patents will be too high and most device manufacturers will exit that market. So, we will be left with expensive, uni-tasking iPhones, with an App Store that only carries apps that the company sees fit.

I seriously hope that this case doesn’t go though in it’s entirety; the stipulations of it are serious and and could be extremely detrimental to consumers.

Android, apple, HTC, iPhone, lawsuits, opinion

8 Comments

SHaitien said: On March 5, 2010

"Apple is trying to destroy any smartphone competition in the United States" & "trying to protect its iPhone sales without having to innovate at a faster pace" Those two quotes sum it up perfectly in my opinion.
My recent post Nokia 5230 Nuron coming to T-Mobile

DTU said: On March 5, 2010

I'm going to have to agree, that's basically all there is to it. Rather than improving their own technology, they're just trying to hinder everyone else's.

Katherine Lawson said: On March 5, 2010

My thoughts exactly.

Yair Amon said: On March 5, 2010

I absolutely agree. Apple is trying to prevent any competition. It is the same strategic that Microsoft always used. This always goes against the customers (both prices are high and innovation is low…).
Apple should invest their resources in developing new handsets and attracting more customers and developers (and even open their OS – which I believe is against their nature…).

Jeff said: On March 5, 2010

Apple tried the same trick vs. Windows wayyy back in the day and lost, altho it was due more to timing than the merits of the case itself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer,_Inc….

As a consumer I do not wish for them to succeed. As a businessman I see their point. I'm hoping HTC is able to pay some licensing fees and move on.

Gethin said: On March 5, 2010

Jeff, licensing? For what? One of the patents in question is graphic interface functionality, which is absurb, like Apple invention the concept of UI. If they are successful at this, it means every smartphone maker has to go begging Apple to design. It will simply hinder innovation, we are already behind Japan and some of the east in smartphone design and deployment, we dont need Apple setting us back some more.
My recent post Google Gesture App Demo

Brian Klippel said: On March 5, 2010

You won't see licensing anyway, this is about steves ego, not money. He can't stand that people could prefer something other than his simplistic idea. To make him feel better, they need to force everyone back to him. If this were to go apples way, I would cease buying smartphones as opposed to buying anything apple made.

I think i'm going to patent the iPoo, a toilet with a touch interface that won't support flash. Instead it will support flush. An LCD with pictures of steve will be mounted in the bottom of the bowl.

If you can't innovate, litigate.

Ambrose Lockerz said: On March 15, 2010

Good day. First I wish to say that I really like your weblog, just discovered it the past week but I’ve been following it increasingly since then.

I look to acknowledge with most of your thoughts and opinions and this submit is no exception. completely

Thank you to get a wonderful web site and I hope you retain up the great work. If you do I will keep on to browse through it.

Have a very wonderful day.

Android Apps and News

Thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and Unpacked 2013

Diztronic case review for LG Nexus 4

Why I decided to purchase the Nexus 4

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - Verizon Remix Version

HTC DROID DNA Review

Samsung Galaxy Note II Review

Android News