The International Trade Commission is expected to make a ruling tomorrow, December 6, in the Apple versus HTC case; Cupertino is expecting the Commission to agree with the company stance that phones running Google’s Android operating system are iPhone rip-offs.

The upcoming ruling will not only be the first final one in an “Apple versus someone else running Android case” (HTC, Samsung, Motorola) but, if siding with Cupertino, the Commission could impose a U.S. import ban for HTC devices. If, on the other hand, the ITC will share HTC’s view, this will mean that the Taiwanese phone-maker will have a (theoretical) upper hand in negotiating favorable terms in settlements with Apple.

According to an October 31 Canalys reports, HTC sold 24% of smartphones in the U.S. during Q3, while Samsung came in second with its 21%, both ahead of Apple’s 20%. Back in July, HTC’s CEO Peter Chou was ready to start a patent war with Apple but with tomorrow’s ruling, a very significant battle (if not the war itself) will come to an end.

Source: Bloomberg