ITC Denies Apple a Pre-Trial Ban on the U.S. Import of All HTC Android Smartphones

Apple was unsuccessful at getting the Internartional Trade Commission to block HTC from bringing all its Android-based phones into the United States. The ITC is continuing to investigate the matter, however.

Apple claims that a waide array of smartphones made by HTC infringe on its patents, and has taken its claim to the ITC. This body, part of the U.S. government, is investigating the claim, but Apple asked that the Commission institute an immediate ban on the import of these products while the investiagation goes on. The ITC responded by saying: "Apple has not demonstrated the propriety of temporary emergency action."

This?does not mean that the matter is over, as a further statement makes clear: "The commission will not direct Customs to detain all subject HTC products because the commission does not have the information necessary to determine whether the respondents are currently violating the commission's limited exclusion order."

The "limited exclusion order" was issued by the ITC late last year, and it bans the import of HTC models that infringe on certain Apple patents. However, HTC was able to convince U.S. Customs that it had modified its handsets so that they don't infringe, something Apple disputes and the ITC is investigating.