Taiwanese-based company, HTC Corp. recently won against a patent-infringement case against FlashPoint Technology, Inc.

The U.S. International Trade Commission supported HTC when they claimed that the company did not violate two of the patents under FlashPoint relating to digital-camera features. The dispute was about the technology that is utilized in digital cameras which includes focus, flash settings, and automatic rotation of an image. FlashPoint placed a request stating that HTC should stop releasing their phones in the U.S. market due to violating these patents.

In a filing done last August, HTC argued that consumers "would be deprived of the most popular choice of devices running the Android or Windows Phone 7 operating system" if the ruling would be favorable for HTC. In response to this FlashPoint said that consumers would not be deprived of such features because they could still access is it through companies that license FlashPoint's technology like Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Nokia Oyj and Research In Motion Ltd. This is not the first time that FlashPoint has filed patent cases regarding this technology. FlashPoint have already filed patent cases against companies like LG Electronics Inc., RIM and Nokia and they have already agreed to a settlement before the ruling came about.

HTC General Counsel Grace Lei released a statement addressing this win stating that "The commission's determination validates our position that we respect protected innovations." She also added that "We (HTC) look forward to returning to doing what we do best: creating innovative mobile experiences and providing choice to consumers." This ruling against FlashPoint is an important one for HTC as the company could now focus on a much bigger battle with Apple. Both companies are not only tied with patent battles in ITC but also with cases in the U.S. courts. Apple is known for not adhering to settlements so HTC has to brace itself for a longer and gruesome war against Apple.

HTC is currently in the fourth spot in terms of market sales and it is still facing a tough market due to competing companies like Samsung and Apple. In order to gain a higher spot for market sales, HTC plans to release a new line of smartphones in the market but the patent battles that the company is experiencing could put a stop to these plans.