Three days after HTC Found Guilty Of Infringing two Apple patents, HTC shares closed down 3.9% at T$871 on Monday. This ruling still has to be supported by the agency’s commissioners, But investors are panicking over the idea that if the agency’s commissioners supported the ruling , HTC imports into the U.S. will be banned.
The attempt to prop up HTC’s share price appeared to have little effect as the stock fell below HTC’s minimum purchase price of T$900 to close down 3.9 per cent at T$871. The sell-off highlights investor fears that the legal battle could have wider implications for the competitive balance between Apple and Google Android-based phonemakers like HTC, Samsung and Motorola.
“We are highly confident we have a strong case for the ITC appeals process and are fully prepared to defend ourselves using all means possible, We strongly believe we have alternate solutions in place for the issues raised by Apple. We look forward to resolving this case, so we can continue creating the most innovative mobile experiences for consumers.” HTC’s general council Grace Lei said on Friday.
In March 2010 Apple filed an ITC complaint accusing HTC of Infringing twenty patents of the iPhone’s hardware, but ITC recently ruled in favor of HTC, deciding the iPhone maker infringed on two patents held by S3 Graphics which is acquired by HTC.
