U.S. Customs Blocks Import of HTC One X and Evo 4G Over Apple Patent

U.S. Customs has blocked the import of the HTC One X and Evo 4G LTE as the agency investigates whether they infringe an Apple patent, reports The Verge.

Apple won a wide-ranging exclusion order banning the importation of HTC Android devices at the International Trade Commission last December -- the ITC found that Android's messaging app and browser infringed upon Apple patent #5,946,647, which covers automatically converting things like phone numbers and email addresses into actionable links that open a menu of options. The ban was delayed so HTC could engineer around Apple's patent claims, but it went into effect on April 19th -- and although HTC claimed so-called "data tapping" was a "small UI experience" that would be completely removed from its US Android devices, Customs is now reviewing the One X and Evo 4G LTE.

HTC has issued a statement in regards to the news saying, "The US availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order. We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval. The HTC One X and HTC Evo 4G LTE have been received enthusiastically by customers and we appreciate their patience as we work to get these products into their hands as soon as possible."


HTC reported a 70% drop in net profit to T$4.464 billion ($151.5 million) in the first quarter of 2012 which was blamed on competition from the iPhone 4S.

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