Apple has enough courtroom action going on right now to fill up half-a-dozen prime-time legal dramas. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about keeping your HTC and Samsung patent disputes straight—we do it for you in another edition of Under the Gavel.
Apple vs. HTC
Apple is disappointing HTC with its “constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market.” That’s the word from HTC general counsel Grace Lei, responding Tuesday to Apple’s latest filing with the International Trade Commission (ITC). This new Apple complaint—its fourth against HTC—covers what Cupertino alleges are various infringements over iPad and iPhone-related technologies.
“HTC strongly denies all infringement claims raised by Apple in the past and present.”
Apple vs. Samsung
So Apple’s probably not invited to HTC’s birthday party. But it’s equally unlikely that Apple would accept a Google+ friend request from Samsung any time soon: Samsung has asked a U.S. District Court to disqualify some—and potentially all—of Apple’s outside counsel in the ongoing legal battle between those two companies (who file ITC complaints against each other like it’s going out of style). As reported by FOSS Patents, Samsung alleges that lawyers now representing Apple previously represented Samsung, which the Korean company says “taints all attorneys” involved for Apple.
Apple vs. job openings
While it’s fighting various patent-related issues, Apple will soon no longer rely upon the services of Richard “Chip” Lutton, Jr., who served as Apple’s chief patent counsel for the past ten years; according to Reuters, Lutton has decided to move on. B.J. Wastrous, who previously served as HP’s Chief of Intellectual Property and Licensing, will reportedly take over Lutton’s old duties.
We imagine Wastrous will find plenty to keep himself busy at Apple in his new role.