Google’s Rubin: ITC ruling in Apple/HTC case may see start of patent settlements

Google’s head of Android Andy Rubin believes the latest ITC ruling made in the patent fight between Apple and HTC could begin an era of patent settlements, with the decision being the “quick path to settling” disputes over intellectual property complaints in patent cases.

Focus Taiwan reports that Rubin visited HTC headquarters in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan, a day after the ITC ruled that the Taiwanese smartphone giant had infringed on U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647, a “system and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data.”

HTC quickly issued a statement noting that it was prepared to develop alternate versions of its products and software to circumvent any ban:

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.

With HTC found only to be infringing on one of the four patents of which it was accused, it was seen as a win for the smartphone maker as it would be able to design around it.

Speaking to journalists at HTC’s headquarters, Rubin said that he was more optimistic and that a judgement would be “a way to settle this situation.”

He added:

“The ITC is a quick path for settling these disputes. I think this is the beginning of settling.”

At the briefing, Rubin also announced that Google’s Android platform is now seeing 700,000 activations a day, a 200,000 rise from the figure announced three months ago.