UK: HTC One mini ruled latest casualty in patent wars

The HTC One mini will be banned from store shelves in the UK beginning December 6, the smartphone to become the latest casualty in multinational patent wars.

The product ban is the result of a major win for HTC rival Nokia, which accused HTC of infringing on one of its patents. Justice Arnold of the England and Wales High Court sided with Nokia after HTC used the defense that other smartphone giants, including Apple and Samsung, all use the same patent.

The technology in question is for a “modular structure for a transmitter and mobile station,” reports say.

HTC’s flagship the HTC One may soon fall as well, though HTC vowed to appeal the ruling.

The case is more good news for Nokia, which recently got clearance to sell its handset business to Microsoft.

Nokia is also challenging HTC’s use of the patent in six other nations, reports say, as global patent wars challenging rivals for the use of standard-essential patents shows no sign of slowing.

Full Content: Android PIT

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