HTC claims to have solution for infringed Apple patents

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Just this evening the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that HTC was in violation of one of Apple's patents, and as a result set a ban on the import of HTC devices into the country, which is due to begin next April. HTC has responded to the decision, and claims that it has a workaround already for the infringed patents.

The patent that HTC was found in violation of pertains to the linking of data between apps, such as phone numbers in an email that a user can click on and directly go to the phone dialer. Though this seems like a fairly low-level function, HTC already has a solution that does not infringe upon Apple's patents.

"We are gratified that the commission affirmed the judge's determination on the ?721 and ?983 patents, and reversed its decision on the ?263 patent and partially on the ?647 patent," said the company. "While disappointed that a finding of violation was still found on two claims of the ?647 patent, we are well prepared for this decision, and our designers have created alternate solutions for the ?647 patent."

Since the ban on HTC devices is not due to take effect until April 19, 2012, HTC has plenty of time to deploy a software update to its smartphones that fixes the problem. From the looks of things, it doesn't seem like HTC will have to pull any devices off of shelves after all.

Update: HTC has released a revised version of its previous statement that refers to the infringed patent as a "small UI experience" and makes it seem like it is even less serious than previously though:
"We are gratified that the Commission affirmed the judge's initial determination on the ?721 and ?983 patents, and reversed its decision on the ?263 patent and partially on the ?647 patent. We are very pleased with the determination and we respect it. However, the ?647 patent is a small UI experience and HTC will completely remove it from all of our phones soon."
[via The Verge]