It seems that 2012 may not have started in href=”http://www.apple.com/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Apple”>Apple’s favor as the ITC issued an initial ruling that pretty much ruled in href=”http://www.motorola.com/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Motorola”>Motorola’s favor. In the on-going patent war between Apple and Motorola ( href=”http://www.samsung.com/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Samsung Group”>Samsung, href=”http://www.htc.com/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”HTC”>HTC, etc), it would appear that the ITC feels that Motorola did not infringe upon three of Apple’s smartphone patents. However it should be noted that this initial ruling is from an administrative law judge, and the six-person ITC panel could very well rule in the opposite direction.
For those uninformed, Apple appears to have launched itself on a crusade against href=”http://code.google.com/android/” rel=”homepage” target=”_blank” title=”Android”>Android handset manufacturers. This includes Samsung, HTC and Motorola (among others) where the Cupertino company has tried to get their competitors’ products banned. So far Apple has had several victories against HTC and Samsung, but if this initial ruling is anything to go by, Motorola could very well be putting up a pretty tough fight. The full report of Apple’s complaint against Motorola will have its conclusion come some time in March 2012, but for now it looks like Motorola may have scored an early victory.