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Microsoft Sues Motorola Over Android-Related Patent Infringement

Posted by Soulskill on from the no-license-for-you dept.

suraj.sun writes with this excerpt from Engadget: "Microsoft has hit up the ITC over a total of nine alleged patent infringements by Motorola in its Android devices, specifically relating to 'synchronizing email, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.' This should be interesting — will it result in a quick cross-licensing agreement, or a protracted court battle spanning multiple years?" The ITC complaint was accompanied by a lawsuit in US District Court. Microsoft's Horacio Gutierrez explained the company's reasoning in a blog post.

8 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Another Example by sabs · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is yet more proof that software patents are stupid.

  2. Pot meet kettle by Pop69 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In the past Microsoft was the one screwing over its "partner" and stealing mobile phone technology

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sendo

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/01/06/microsofts_masterplan_to_screw_phone/

    So having based their smartphone stuff on stolen tech, they're now turning round claiming other people are stealing their tech ?

    Oddly enough, it looks like Motorola were the ones who ended up with the Sendo tech.

  3. Microsoft's Reasoning by StormReaver · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsoft's reasoning is simple: We're going to get our asses kicked by Android in the mobile market, so we're going to use our vast resources to try to destroy yet another superior product. This is standard Microsoft business practice. So shameful.

    1. Re:Microsoft's Reasoning by swb · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It seems even more desperate than that. I think the smell of death has taken hold at MS -- they're toast in search, Windows Mobile went from pervasive to MIA in very short time span, they actually had tablets out years ago and now Apple seems to have a massive lead (at least in mindshare).

      My guess is they figured they HAD to do this because a flop with WinMo7 would be highly embarrassing and possibly cost Ballmer his job.

  4. Re:Totally called it by blind+biker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    MS: Get our mobile OS - it's good, it'll protect you from lawsuits.
    All: Protect us? From who?
    MS: Us, mostly...

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  5. Re:Worry about app devs, not Microsoft or Google by Penguinisto · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's interesting that you'd advocate for a quick and easy surrender, when in fact Microsoft may not even have a case (or even valid patents). Smells like FUD, circa 2003.

    If Google came out swinging, no sweat - the devs (like everyone else) will figure that it'll settle anyway, and barring injunctions (unlikely), business will continue as usual.

    You know? If IBM took the attitude that you're advocating, we'd all be paying some jackass in Utah $700/seat for Linux.

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  6. Re:Enemy of My Enemy, etc... by Motard · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From the MS blog post...

    "Our action today merely seeks to ensure respect for our intellectual property rights infringed by Android devices; and judging by the recent actions by Apple and Oracle, we are not alone in this respect."

    Android threatens the iPhone perhaps more than Windows Phone 7 does at this point.

    Plus, an Apple proprietary device vs. a Microsoft operating system used by many manufacturers is a competition model that both Microsoft and Apple have been content with for a very long time. Google is an interloper.

  7. Re:Translation by Znork · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I got email delivered over a modem in the early 90's. The fact that it's now delivered over a GSM modem is hardly 'innovation', no matter what company tries to claim it as such.