HTC Responds to Apple; War to Commence Soon?

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So we’ve seen Apple sue HTC yesterday in a move that surprised everyone and now we hear HTC answering back to Cupertino. Moreover Google is ready to support its Android partners although the Mountain View-based company hasn’t been officially targeted by Apple’s lawsuit.

An important legal battle is about to take place and the side that will win could heavily influence the way future smartphones are going to be made. But this war could last for a long while, just like the Apple vs Nokia and Nokia vs Apple trials, so we’ll be in for a long wait to see a winner here, if there will be one, of course.

Here’s what HTC said immediately after hearing about Apple’s lawsuit:

HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations. HTC only learned of Apple’s actions this morning via media reports, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to investigate the filings. Until we have had this opportunity, we are unable to comment on the validity of the claims being made against HTC.

Today HTC has issued another statement for its customers:

HTC is a mobile technology innovator and patent holder that has been very focused over the past 13 years on creating many of the most innovative smartphones. HTC Corporation values U.S. and international patent rights and will work with in the U.S. Judicial System to protect its own innovations and rights.
HTC believes that consumer choice is a key component to success in the smartphone industry and this is best achieved through multiple suppliers providing a variety of mobile experiences. HTC has focused on offering its customers a uniquely-HTC experience through HTC Sense and its broad portfolio of smartphones.
HTC does not believe this lawsuit poses a short-term material impact to its business nor will it affect its Q1 2010 guidance.

Google’s statement, although very short, is equally important to this battle scenario:

We are not a party to this lawsuit. However, we stand behind our Android operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it.

We already know what Steve Jobs said about the trial so now, leaving statements aside, we can only wait for the appointed attorneys to do what they do best. We, the customers, will be innocent bystanders in this lawsuit as our immediate smartphone-buying plans could be affected by the outcome of this fight amongst giants. But we’ll just keep our fingers crossed here and hope for some sort of happy end that will include all the parties involved, HTC, Google, Apple and we, the consumers.