HTC hit by patent ruling

TAIWANESE SMARTPHONE manufacturer lost 6% of its value on news that it looks set to lose a long-running legal dispute with rival Apple. The action centres around the infringement of two patents held by Apple and the US-based International Trade Commission made a preliminary ruling that HTC was in breach. Patent disputes are, however, common in the technology sector and observers pointed to a separate dispute going the other way as ultimately forming the basis for a negotiated settlement. Separately, Tour de France fans have grown increasingly bewildered over the brand’s exposure in cycling. The HTC Highroad team has drawn a decidedly mixed response from race fans who question the brand alignment with both team and sport. In a survey 60% of consumer responses indicate their views of the brand are either neutral or negative following the sponsorship.