Google and Apple usually ignore each other as they both sit perched atop their respective pedestals overlooking the information technology battlefield. However, evidently Google can only take so much of Apple attempting legally to smack around competitors using Google’s Andorid operating system with lawsuit cases. In this case, it’s Taiwan’s tech-powerhouse HTC which is under Apple’s legal bludgeoning.
In an off-the-cuff sort of way, Google’s Chairman, Eric Schmidt, fired a shot across Apple’s bow while delivering a speech at Google’s Mobile Revolution conference in Tokyo, Japan. He noted that “We have seen an explosion of Android devices entering the market and, because of our successes, competitors are responding with lawsuits as they cannot respond through innovations.”
It’s noteworthy that Apple is not the only company romping around flinging patent lawsuits at competitors, but a USITC (United States International Trade Commission) judge’s preliminarily ruling in favor of Apple regarding two patents (out of ten total) they say that HTC infringes definitely brings Apple versus HTC to the mind’s eye forefront. More details regarding Apple’s patent infringement suit against HTC can be found here.
Schmidt also noted, admittedly in a vague sort of way, that Google would help defend HTC against Apple’s litigation. How Google would provide assistance to HTC is unknown.