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."

Comments

Mebbe Tim Kooks won't get the 378Million after all

[Taco Cowboy]

Hope that this will be the first of many many defeats Apple will face in the future

I've had enough of patent trolling, no matter if it comes from Microsoft or Apple

Courts are becoming more efficient.

[mjwx]

I remember a time where companies would get 3 or 4 years of quality FUD out of a false patent claim. All Apple got were a few months and some Florian Mueller posts. I'd be asking for my money back, at least from Mueller.

Re:iLawyer 4G

[Colonel Korn]

The constant litigation between Apple and [insert every other phone manufacturer] is not only holding back innovation

Really? Because I see a whole bunch of new phones at CES. Do you have any evidence that innovation is being held back, or is this just a gut "but it must be so" feeling?

There are/were a bunch of countries with Samsung tablet unavailability because of Apple-requested injunctions. It's usually hard to point at the status quo and make a good case for what would have been if only something else had happened, so I think that's pretty solid evidence for the GP's claim.