Flashpoint drags HTC into yet another patent dispute

Taiwanese handset maker HTC Corp. has been caught up in yet another of the patent complaints that are dogging an increasingly litigious technology industry.

HTC said Wednesday that Flashpoint Technology Inc. of the U.S. has filed another patent-infringement complaint against HTC with the U.S. International Trade Commission. In a similar matter last year the commission ruled against the Peterborough, New Hampshire-based imaging technology company's allegations.

HTC is also named as a respondent in patent disputes with Nokia Corp. The U.S. International Trade Commission is investigating allegations leveled by Nokia that the Taiwanese handset maker's products infringe the Finnish company's patents. Nokia said in early May that it filed several patent-infringement claims against HTC with the U.S. trade body and with courts in the U.S. and Germany.

HTC has been involved in legal disputes with industry giant Apple Inc., too. Following a complaint by Apple, the ITC has since April 19 declared that all HTC handset shipments to the U.S. be inspected and cleared by U.S. Customs. This delays HTC hardware getting to market.

While companies are trying to protect their patents with trade actions, they are also using legal avenues to prevent rivals from getting ahead amid fierce competition, according to industry analysts.

According to Flashpoint's filing posted on the ITC website, Flashpoint alleges certain HTC electronic-imaging devices infringe its patents. Flashpoint is seeking cease and desist orders against HTC from the ITC, the document added.

The document also names Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. as respondents in the complaint, according to the document. Both ZTE and Huawei couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

While HTC confirmed in a statement that the U.S. trade body commenced looking into the complaint June 25 it added nothing more, saying it doesn't comment on continuing legal proceedings."

To help insulate itself from patent complaints HTC has said it will consider buying software-technology companies.

HTC is up against competition from Apple and Samsung Electronics Co, while also being challenged by emerging Chinese players like Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. which offer advanced smartphones at lower prices.

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