HTC's North Asia president Jack Tong responded to suggestions in several reviews that his company's HTC One A9 smartphone is a lookalike, copycat, or clone of Apple's iPhone 6 series. He claimed that the Taiwan-based company has been manufacturing unibody metal-clad smartphones since 2013, and that Apple copied his company's antenna design.
HTC and Apple agreed to a 10-year licensing deal in late 2012 and promised to end all patent litigation. However, legal issues can always heat up again.
In 2012 Apple launched the larger-display iPhone 5, while HTC rolled out the first three mobile devices in their HTC One lineup. Both companies' models were available in multiple colors.
The following year HTC unveiled the HTC One handset and Apple introduced the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.
Then in February 2014 HTC launched its Desire smartphones, whose design differed from the HTC One line. Apple retorted with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in September, which featured bigger displays.
This year HTC launched the HTC One M9 in March, with few design changes. Apple's iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus were also released with few industrial design changes.
Most recently HTC introduced the HTC One A9 this month. It includes a fingerprint scanner, rounded edges, and a size very close to the iPhone 6 and 6s, according to Slash Gear.
HTC has also launched some odd, ineffective ads. This is despite them featuring Hollywood stars such as Robert Downey Jr. of the Ironman movies.
The big picture is that new mobile phones on the market get buzz before their release date. However, few have a truly unique design, according to CNET.
Other allegations of companies stealing mobile phone tech has been big news in recent years. That includes the legal battles between Apple and Samsung.
HTC was founded in 1997. It is credited with producing the first Android and Microsoft-powered smartphones.