The International Trade Commission (ITC) has ruled that Taiwan-based HTC had infringed on one patent of the Apple on its Android smartphones and tablets.
The ITC also banned on the importing of specific HTC Android devices with effect from April 19, 2012.
According to the Reuters, HTC, however, termed the ruling "a win" for it as it impacted only one patent, rather than the 10 as initially claimed.
HTC said in a statement that it was very pleased with the determination and it respects it.
The ruling still has to be still approved by the ITC’s president, who has two months to agree with the decision or veto it.
Earlier in October, HTC received a blow in its patent infringement claim against Apple, following an initial ruling by a US trade authority.
HTC (High Tech Computer Corp.) is the fourth largest vendor of smartphones in the world.
