Nokia has won a court injunction against HTC, banning the use of specific microphone components in its flagship HTC One smartphone.
Nokia dismantled a HTC One handset and discovered the device had the same high amplitude audio capture (HAAC) technology as Nokia.
The injunction ruling from the Amsterdam District Court banning the use of the microphone technology in the HTC One is effective until March 2014.
It prevents STMicroelectronics, who sells the parts, from offering the HAAC to the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer. The court found the microphone technology has been invented by Nokia and was exclusively manufactured for its smartphones like the Nokia Lumia 920.
“HTC has no license or authorisation from Nokia to use these microphones or the Nokia technologies from which they have been developed,” said Nokia. “An injunction prevents STMicroelectronics from selling the microphones to anyone except us, anywhere in the world, until 1 March 2014. Its scope is not restricted to the Netherlands.”
“The HAAC [high amplitude audio capture] technology used in these microphones is Nokia’s and there is no alternate supplier.”
HTC has already confirmed it is “immediately” looking for replacement technology, but it is sure to add more woes to the company that has already struggled with component shortages prior to the HTC One release.
“We are considering whether it will have any impact on our business and we will explore alternative solutions immediately,” said HTC in a statement.
However, a spokesperson from STMicroelectronics has said the company is looking to challenge the ruling.
“A decision has been rendered by the Amsterdam Court, prohibiting ST to sell a specific microphone on the open market,” said a spokesman for STMicro. “ST intends to appeal this decision. In the meantime, ST is ready to propose alternative solutions.”
The HTC One is available now from a wide range of UK network operators, known well for its metallic design, UltraPixel camera and new BlinkFeed home screen news aggregator.
Via: GSMArena
