HTC seems to be having a little trouble with getting their One X and EVO 4G LTE into the U.S.A. due to checks for compliance with an injunction from the International Trade Commission. The Taiwan phone maker has been subject to an import ban because of patent infringement on a technology called “data detectors”, which allows the phone to figure out what’s a phone number, what’s an email address, etc. The patent belongs to Apple and, according to Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents, is of “medium value” and HTC would be at a complete disadvantage without it. Here’s a bit from AppleInsider to lend a little more detail:
Though the ITC is unable to issue fines for patent infringement, it is able to grant import bans that can have devastating financial impact on companies. According to the report, Customs and Border Protection is responsible for enforcing the injunction and is reportedly “allowed to handle things pretty much any way it wants.”
HTC says that things should be just fine (of course) and released a statement saying: “We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval.”
Source: AppleInsider
