Apple Wins ITC Patent Ruling against Motorola Mobility

A U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) judge today ruled that Apple did not infringe upon a patent owned by Google\’s Motorola Mobility division.

ITC judge Thomas Pender ruled that the patent, which covers a sensor which prevents users from accidentally making touchscreen inputs, was invalid on account of obviousness. Pender\’s ruling is subject to review by the whole commission, which has the ability to review, modify, and/or reverse a judge like Pender\’s initial decision.

The patent ruling was the last remaining one in an ITC complaint that was filed by Motorola against Apple in October of 2010. Earlier this year, Pender did rule that Apple had violated one of Motorola\’s patents regarding 3G wireless technology, however that decision was later reversed by an ITC panel.

Naturally, Motorola said that it is disappointed with the judge\’s ruling. The decision is only the latest in a string of disputes between the two companies, a battle which only heated up after Google acquired Motorola for $12.5 billion earlier this year in an effort to bolster its patent library.