HTC and Motorola devices hit by import ban... users are the losers here

As HTC's new flagship devices the AT&T HTC One X and the HTC Evo 4G LTE slowly start to ship after being stopped by an ITC ordered import ban, it now seems like Motorola handsets are next in line to be blocked.

It's all about patents.

The HTC devices were stopped at the border due to a patent ruling in Apple's favour. Although the handsets in question actually contained software workarounds to ensure that they did not infringe, a delay was caused at US customs while agents confirmed that this was the case and that the devices could be legally imported. This of course impacted the AT&T and Sprint launch plans for the new flagship devices, leaving consumers frustrated at a time that is critical in a new device's life cycle.

Motorola's forthcoming troubles are not about Apple patents, but about Microsoft. In 2010 it was ruled that Motorola were infringing on 9 of Microsoft patents including, amongst other things, their ActiveSync technology. With a patent licencing agreement apparently not agreed, Microsoft have taken their complaint a step further and now Motorola face the prospect of having an import ban placed upon 18 of their devices, a ban that will take effect in 60 days if the situation is not resolved. The reality is that Motorola are likely to come to some sort of agreement before that time, joining the majority of Android manufacturers in cutting a deal with Microsoft... although this is something Motorola's new owners - Google - are probably very reluctant to do!

Legal squabbles aside, I think it's the consumer that is really losing out in the current climate of excessive patent squabbles. Obviously Android fans looking to buy the AT&T HTC One X or the HTC Evo 4G LTE have had trouble finding their devices to buy, but it's also inevitable that the time and energy expended in side-stepping patents that often seem somewhat generic in nature to end users will impact the ability of manufacturers to commit resource to other work.

I want to see everyone get along and drive forward the market through genuine competition and innovation k?

[Via: LATimes]