Immersion Settles With HTC in Patent Infringement Case Over Basic Haptics

Immersion said it agreed to a settlement and license agreement with HTC to resolve a patent infringement lawsuit it brought against the Chinese smartphone maker. The settlement preserves Immersion’s right to appeal the invalidity ruling affecting three of Immersion’s patents. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, was based on HTC’s uses of a simple form of haptic effects in its mobile devices, referred to as Basic Haptics. Under the settlement and license agreement, HTC will pay an undisclosed amount to compensate for prior shipments of its devices containing Basic Haptics and an additional undisclosed licensing fee to continue manufacturing and selling devices with Basic Haptics, said Immersion Monday. Immersion CEO Victor Viegas said the settlement won't have a material impact on 2015 financial results. Immersion announced similar settlements and licensing agreements (see 1211280083) with Google and Motorola in 2012. Immersion announced a multiyear licensing deal in 2013 with Samsung for Basic Haptics. HTC didn’t comment.