HTC counters IPCom, blocks attempts to sue German shops
updated 05:20 pm EST, Thu December 22, 2011
HTC has IPCom stopped from blocking its sales
IPCom's attempts to sue HTC's store partners to block sales may have been thwarted as a German court has reportedly put in place a preliminary ban on the threats. The 3G patent holder was said by HTC attorneys to be momentarily blocked from trying to sue any retailer that carries the phones. The gesture would effectively clear HTC to stay in the German market until the ban was lifted.
Under German law, it's up to IPCom to be more actively involved in enforcing bans it might win. The lawsuit victor has been accused of being overly aggressive, however, and trying to intimidate stores into dropping HTC even before it had won its case.
The restriction on IPCom, if sustained, will likely help assuage a company already in trouble this fall. Germany is often considered Europe's largest market and would only further damage HTC's already lowered forecast. The Taiwan firm faces a possible, if mild, ban on devices in the US following an ITC decision in favor of Apple. [via CENS]
