Apple wins one

Reuters has an article in The New York Times about Apple and HTC:

Apple has won a preliminary ruling from a federal trade panel that a Taiwanese handset maker, the HTC Corporation, had infringed on two of its patents. HTC, which uses Google’s Android operating system for its smartphones, said it would fight the infringement finding. An International Trade Commission administrative judge made the ruling, but the full commission must now rule on whether it will uphold or reverse its judge’s decision. The ruling, though preliminary, will be closely dissected, as it is one of the first between Apple and other smartphone makers that use Android. Smartphone technology has spawned a wealth of patent litigation. Apple has also filed complaints against Samsung Electronics, which also uses the Android software platform. Apple recently settled a case against Nokia, while Microsoft and Motorola have also filed smartphone-related lawsuits against each other. A final determination in this case is due on 6 December.

Rico says he's not a bit surprised; all those iPhones-come-lately had to have poached something from Apple's software. (But look-and-feel alone should get their winkies smacked...)