News

Apple’s Smartphone Battle Plan

BusinessWeek.com
March 2, 2010

Related Professionals: Jarvis, Thomas L.

Media Mention

On March 2, Apple filed a patent-infringement complaint with the International Trade Commission, alleging that HTC infringes 10 Apple patents mainly related to the software that runs smartphones. Apple’s suit underscores the growing prominence of the ITC in settling patent disputes over smartphones, which is one of the fastest-growing areas in technology. Typically, device manufacturers view the ITC as a more efficient and aggressive arbiter of patent disputes than overstretched federal courts: Finnegan partner Thomas Jarvis explained that “the ITC is well-known for its expedited proceedings,” and says it takes on average about 7 to 10 months to get a hearing at the ITC and about two years to get to trial in district courts.