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Barnes & Noble Names Microsoft's Disputed Android Patents
Julie188 writes "B&N is really blowing the lid off of what Microsoft is doing and how they are forcing money from Android. It has accused Microsoft of requiring overly restricted NDA agreements from those even entering into patent license talks. Because it is disputing Microsoft's claims, and the restrictions of its own NDA signed with Redmond, B&N has gone public. It has named in detail six patents that it says Microsoft is using to get Android device makers to pay up. Plus, B&N is also trying to force open Microsoft's other plans for stomping out Android, including the agreement Redmond made with Nokia, and Nokia's patent-troll MOSAID."
Well, Google couldn't compete in the mobile marketplace either, so they decided to give a product away for free, funded by their monopoly search profits, just as Microsoft once did with Internet Explorer when it couldn't compete with Netscape. It wouldn't surprise me to get modbombed into oblivion for posting this on Slashdot (it happens), but it's the reality of the situation.
Google memos show that they were aware of Android's patent issues and chose to ignore them. I know Slashdot thinks all patents are evil (along with copyrights, commercial software, paying for music, etc.), but there are legitimate patents, and companies do deserve compensation for their research and development. I'm sure the many amateur patent lawyers that visit Slashdot will tear apart these patents with their expert analysis.
As opposed to a leveraging a monopoly position in web search to dominate the mobile phone market by giving away a free product that competitors can't afford to compete with on price? This situation seems familiar...