With Apple introducing its new iPod touch in the US, Peter Chou, CEO and president of High Tech Computer (HTC) pointed out that HTC has registered HTC Touch as a trademark worldwide, adding that the company feels proud to share the same vision as Apple over touch screen functions. The company would not comment whether or not it will take legal action against Apple for trademark infringement.
Apple's new generation iPod touch is similar to HTC's Touch smartphones as both products feature a touch screen interface and share similar trademarks, some market observers have noted. This could be read as a challenge to HTC.
Ching-hung Wang (transliterated from Chinese), marketing manager of HTC pointed out that he does not think Apple's iPod touch was targeting HTC since Apple should put its focus on bigger companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. As for whether iPod touch violates HTC's trademark, Wang pointed out that in the past Apple and Cisco were able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement over the rights to the iPhone trademark, adding that the question surrounding the rights to the Touch trademark would need further observation.
In additional news, HTC has announced August revenues of NT$9.51 billion (US$287.8 million), an increase of 10.87% on year and 5.1% on month. Accumulated revenues for the first eight months this year were NT$69.02 billion, an increase of 2.29%. Market watchers expect the company has a chance to reach NT$10 billion in its September revenues.