Nokia wins court injunction against HTC One microphone component

[Jozi]

Nokia has won a court injunction against HTC over the use of a microphone component in its HTC One flagship smartphone that the Finnish mobile giant claims infringes its patented technology.

The Amsterdam District Court made the ruling, affirming Nokia's claim to exclusivity of the technology, and preventing ST Micro, the manufacturer of the components, from selling them to HTC until at least March 2014.

“HTC has no license or authorization from Nokia to use these microphones or the Nokia technologies from which they have been developed,†Nokia said in a statement. It took apart a HTC One to confirm that its technology, called high amplitude audio capture, was being used without consent.

The news is a major blow for Taiwan's HTC, which has been attempting to regain market share in the bitterly contested mobile sector. The HTC One is largely seen as its best bet yet, but it now faces supply issues that could hamper sales.

HTC said it is exploring alternative solutions, which likely include sourcing other microphone manufacturers who can supply technology not under any of Nokia's patents.

The bad news for HTC is not necessarily over yet, as Nokia has another 40 patent infringement cases against HTC awaiting verdicts.

http://vr-zone.com/articles/nokia-wins-court-injunction-against-htc-one-microphone-component/19778.html