Slashdot Mirror


Preliminary ITC Ruling: Motorola Not In Violation of Apple's Patents

SpuriousLogic writes with a preliminary ruling in the ITC case between Apple and Motorola. Quoting eWeek: "Motorola is celebrating an initial triumph over Apple, after a U.S. International Trade Commission administrative law judge issued an initial determination (PDF) finding that Motorola Mobility has not violated any of the three patents listed in an October 2010 lawsuit Apple filed against the Droid maker. ... The determination isn't the final say ... in March, the ruling will be reviewed by a six-member ITC panel that will announce the ultimate ruling. However, according to Zacks Equity Research, it's unusual for the ITC panel, which has the power to block device imports, to contradict a judge's determination."

6 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. seems so by unity100 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Did a Google Streetview car run over your dog or something?

    or more likely, he is one of them 4-5 shill accounts which always end up having a first post against google/pro microsoft in all relevant subjects. someone was tracking them. i guess s/he will post in this thread too.

  2. iLawyer 4G by omganton · · Score: 5, Informative

    The intellectual property lawsuits are getting out of hand. The constant litigation between Apple and [insert every other phone manufacturer] is not only holding back innovation, it's passing the costs on to the consumer. The amount of money these companies spend fighting over small print, legal wording, and patent technicalities is atrocious; in the end, we pay for their lawyers and court fees. Apple should be encouraging competition, not trying to crush it. Let the consumer decide if Motorola deserves to compete with Apple, not a court.

  3. Re:iLawyer 4G by mjwx · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sure, that litigation holds back sales and marketplace competition... But "and by extent innovation"? How does litigation over an existing product in any way affect innovation regarding new products? Can you logically support that extension you're proposing?

    You mean besides the direct effect of asking for an injunction on any product that even might be better, simply because it competes.

    Well it's designed to raise the cost of entry by increasing the risks. Smaller companies that can afford to be more innovative then Apple have a huge disincentive to release new products out of the fear of an expensive law suit that they would be unable to fight.

    Reduction in innovation is a direct result of reduction in competition. Attempting to stop competition from releasing new products reduces the new technologies available on the market.

    Not to mention the fact that the injunctions against the Galaxy Tab were because judges thought Samsung wasn't innovating

    Wrong. The German injunction was over a design patent. Not an innovation and that was overturned. The Australian injunction was voluntary. Samsung agreed to it and the first Judge, Justice Anabelle Bennett's major complaint was against Samsung's Lawyers, not a judgement on the technology itself. This judgement was overturned by a full bench of the Federal court AND a full bench of the High court. This is a very clear indication that the injunction was wrong.

    So when you learn the truth, they actually are good examples. Apple are using litigation to stop competition because they are unable to compete. As I said before, just because they aren't very good at it doesn't make it OK.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  4. Re:iLawyer 4G by cdrudge · · Score: 3, Informative

    I honestly don't have a clue how HTC survives

    Because they are the leading smartphone manufacturer in the US (at least as of Q3 last year). That doesn't reflect worldwide numbers or revenue generated, but it's nothing to sneeze at either. My last 3 phones have been HTC and I'll continue to buy their phones. Their damn good phones, affordable, and are often hacker-friendly(er).

  5. Re:Bribes? by elashish14 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Slide to unlock

    Showing pictures on a phone

    Placement of status buttons and progress bars (on a phone)

    These are all software implementations, not algorithms. They should all be thrown out as patents.

    --
    I have left slashdot and am now on Soylent News. FUCK YOU DICE.
  6. Re:Bribes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Did you really register as a Slashdot user just to post that?

    It's more likely that it's bonch, only his main account was finally modded down into karma oblivion where he belongs. I don't think there has been an Apple story in the last several months where bonch didn't have the first post - said first post invariably explaining in great detail how Google is bad and Apple is good.