Apple gets favorable ruling from the ITC on 3 out of 4 Motorola patents

Overshadowed by the blockbuster verdict in the Apple v. Samsung patent trial, the ITC made a final ruling on Friday on 4 Motorola Mobility patents that Apple was accused of infringing. The final decision mirrors the ITC's initial ruling that Apple did not infringe on three out of the four patents. But instead of ruling that the fourth patent was infringed upon by Apple, the decision by the ITC is to send the evidence on that claim to Administrative Law Judge Thomas B. Pender for a decision.

It could take as long as a year for Judge Pender to reach a decision, and whatever he decides will need to be reviewed by the ITC. The fourth patent, US Patent number 6,246,862, covers the sensor at the top of a phone that prevents the touchscreen from accidentally being deployed when the unit is being held up to the ear during a phone call.

Both Motorola Mobility and Google are being investigated by the FTC for failing to license FRAND related standard essential patents. Earlier this month, the wholly owned Google subsidiary has filed seven new claims against Apple for infringing on patents used for Apple iPhone features like Siri, email notification, video players and location reminders. With this new claim, Motorola Mobility is seeking a U.S. import ban on both the Apple iPhone and Apple iPad

source: electronista