HTC Corp (TPE:2498) will not be able to sell its One Mini phone in the UK from December on following a ruling from a London judge that found the Taiwanese firm in violation of the patents owned by Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V). Judge Richard Arnold reached the conclusion that the HTC One contains microchips that breach Nokia’s patent, but has delayed the injunction allowing HTC to appeal further.
The judge said that banning HTC from selling the Mini in the UK will hurt the company substantially.
Nokia also asking financial compensation
HTC Corp (TPE:2498) launched its One in the UK last March, along with other parts of the world. The phone received good feedback from reviewers and users for its suave appearance and metallic finish. Later, the Taiwanese phone maker came up with a smaller variant – the Mini – and a larger variant, Max, in the second half of the year.
“Nokia is also claiming financial compensation for the infringement of this patent,” the Finnish company said in a statement. HTC has decided not to ship more products in the UK owing to the pending appeal, according to Nokia.
The Taiwanese phone maker argued that chips are a small part of the phone, and banning the handset is uncalled for. HTC sold around 750,000 smartphones garnering revenue of 221 million pounds ($363 million) in the U.K. between January and September, according to the judgment.
HTC may have to settle with Nokia
Earlier in 2011, Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) filed a case against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) over a chip patent, and settled the case after the company agreed to grant a license to the iPhone maker. The Nokia device and service segment will be taken over by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for 5.44 billion euros.
Nokia has filed a case against HTC in six countries: the US, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan. Nokia is getting rulings in its favor, which may force HTC Corp (TPE:2498) to reach a settlement by the end of the year, says a report from FossPatents. In the United States, two preliminary rulings over two patents went in favor of Nokia, which could result in a ban on HTC’s Android-based devices.
Some organizations did not agree with the preliminary rulings, but if the ITC supports the findings then there would be an import ban for sure. On December 6, a ruling related to Nokia Vs. HTC case over a USB related patent is also expected to come.
The cases are HTC Corporation v. Nokia Corporation, High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court, HC12A02048 and HC12C02909.
