Post 27: ITC dismisses Motorola patent lawsuit against Apple

On Monday of this week, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) upheld a court ruling that Motorola Mobility’s smartphone sensor patent was invalid, delivering a bow in Google’s patent battle with archrival Apple. ITC only ruled U.S. Patent No. 6246862 on a “sensor controller user interface for portable communication device”. The patent relates to the feature that a touch screen ignores touches if the user if on a phone call and holds the device close to his head.  The technology has been used widely on iPhone and other smartphones. ITC believes that the concept of the patent protection is too obvious.

The latest Verdict states that it is impossible for Apple or Google to give their competitor a fatal blow in the patent litigation. Although such a ruling is a setback for Motorola, Apple does not win completely. Based on what we have seen so far, the patent lawsuit among mobile phone manufacturers will last a long time. What mobile manufacturers saw is not only benefit from the patent but also the market. The configuration standard of smartphones is gradually convergence. Lots of aspects of small differences, such as appearance design, display effect, become essential factors to decide the products’ difference and features. In order to maintain these features and differences and keep the advantage in intellectual property litigation, many smartphone giants start anther invisible competition.

From these ongoing patent lawsuits, we can see the changes in manufacturer’s mind. Their thoughts have changed from just winning the hearts of consumers to take legal action to undermine the competition. I think more and more cases have proved that patents are not innovative, but the stumbling block to impede the innovation of others. The patent lawsuit dispute between Apple and Motorola (Google) will let both companies injured. The patent dispute between the two did not appear to help either side; instead, it losses at both sides as well as damage the while smartphone market. Rather than spending a lot of money and energy for time-consuming sustained action, smartphone manufacturers could use it with regard to research and development or acquisitions to improve the quality of products and services.