Apple Wins Ruling in Motorola Mobility Patent Case at ITC

Apple’s iPhone didn’t violate patent rights owned by Google’s Motorola Mobility for a sensor that prevents accidental hang-ups, a US International Trade Commission judge said. The patent is invalid, ITC judge Thomas Pender said in a notice posted on the agency’s docket.

The judge’s findings are subject to review by the full commission, which has the power to block imports of products that infringe U.S. patents. “We’re disappointed with this outcome and are evaluating our options,” Jennifer Erickson, a spokeswoman for Motorola Mobility, said. The commission in August ordered Pender to consider a possible violation after it cleared Apple of Motorola Mobility claims related to other patents for 3G technology. This is the second time the judge has said there was no violation of the patent, which applies to a sensor used to determine the proximity of a person’s head to the device.