Microsoft, Motorola Add 9 Patents To Ongoing Court Battle

FlorianMueller writes "Patent suits are the IT industry's new Christmas cards: Microsoft and Motorola just added new accusations to their row. Motorola filed another suit in the Western District of Wisconsin, for the first time also attacking the Kinect. Microsoft threw in seven patents in Southern Florida. Two of them cover touchscreen technologies and two allegedly read on Motorola's DVRs. At this stage of the game, 35 patents are in suit between the companies. Afraid to lose track of so much peace and harmony? There's a visualization available (detailed reference material included)."

Comments

All this because of Android?

[goruka]

It's hard to believe how this insane patent war between the top technology companies was simply created by Google by releasing Android. It's like seeing two completely different business models and corporate visions clash against each other, like international politics did in the cold war era. Alternatively, we could go back even further and call it "Google Allies vs the Axis of Evil".

2010. The beginning of the Great Patent Wars.

[mswhippingboy]

2010 may well mark the beginning of the "Great Patent Wars" where the patent system will begin consuming itself in mutually assured destruction.

Re:2010. The beginning of the Great Patent Wars.

[Anonymous Coward]

BIG companies can't sue one another because they have "dirt" on eachother.
For the rest of us it is just another barrier to enter the market.

Re:2010. The beginning of the Great Patent Wars.

[MickyTheIdiot]

I really do hope that the public wakes up to what is going on with patents and so-called "intellectual property" in general and the fact that it has degraded to the point that they are simply legal clubs to hit others over the head, but we are in such a state in this country. We've got a totally un-intellectual, shallow thinking populace in the U.S. that I doubt there is any way you can get the public to speak out about it.

Re:2010. The beginning of the Great Patent Wars.

[jhoegl]

Agreed, talk about stifling creativity and inventions.
Remember that snap-on case? Where the guy that developed the snap-on system did so at home, but because he worked salary at the company the company owned his idea?
Yeah... why should I invent anything unless I am hourly?

Now you got bozos in Congress that think that a flowchart should be patented, or just a method of doing something should be patented.
Holy shit, I should patent sitting down, Id be rich!

Microsoft wants Android DEAD, and so does Apple

[blind biker]

In this battle, MS and Apple are ad-hoc allies. Definitely a clash of Titans, but currently, the bigger warchest is stacked against Android. Don't forget Oracle's salvo against Java in Android.

Re:Microsoft wants Android DEAD, and so does Apple

[blind biker]

I don't see what made you jump to this conclusion.

Maybe it's my flu, but your ignorance is slightly irritating. Anyhow, here is your opportunity to educate yourself. And educate yourself some more
More details and a good analysis of Apple's strategy against Android.

No need to thank me, but if you do, you're welcome. Always pleased to reduce ignorance.