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Why No War Over MS's Android Patent Shakedown?

Posted by Soulskill on from the cry-havoc-and-let-slip-the-patent-attorneys dept.

jfruhlinger writes "When challenged directly by Oracle over Android intellectual property, Google has proven itself a feisty opponent. So why is it sitting back and letting Microsoft shake down OEMs over its claims to own patents that Android infringes? A disheartened Tom Henderson thinks it's because Microsoft has been smart to go after the vendors rather than poke at Google directly. Still, he wonders when Google will get into the fight." Glyn Moody thinks Google should join the fight as well.

2 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. Perhaps the patents are legit, valid patents? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why is no one mentioning the possibility that M$'s patents might be legit, novel patents that don't cover something frivolous? That would be a damn fine reason to license the patents.

    1. Re:Perhaps the patents are legit, valid patents? by postbigbang · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yet no one litigates to find out. Why? Imagine trying to invalidate dozens of patents, one at a time. Find out what they are, then find patches around them. How many patents can there be to be used against the Linux-Android kernel?

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      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.