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Google and Microsoft Agree To Stand Down In Patent Wars

Posted by samzenpus on from the can't-we-all-just-get-along? dept.

_0x783czar writes: Today Google and Microsoft have announced an end to litigious hostilities between themselves; signaling another step on the road to peace as the "global smartphone wars" wind down. This moves settles 18 lawsuits in the U.S. and Germany, including those involving Motorola Mobility's patents, which Google retained after selling Motorola Mobility to Lenovo. Both companies hope this move will help settle the smartphone wars and refocus their efforts on consumers. Reuters reports: "Google and Microsoft have agreed to collaborate on certain patent matters and anticipate working together in other areas in the future to benefit our customers."

13 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. That'e exactly the wrong outcome! by Prof.Phreak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If they really want things to change, they should agree to work towards abolishing stupid patents---not to create semi-trusts that other companies have to fight.

    --

    "If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy

    1. Re:That'e exactly the wrong outcome! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's the wrong outcome if you want goofy things like 'some punk startup turning into the next Microsoft or Google, rather than being a no-risk-to-us R&D venture to be purchased if they do come up with something cool'; but if you are Microsoft and Google; such an agreement is pretty sensible. Patent fights between 'superpowers' are expensive and largely no-win(yeah, individual cases do get won; but the settlements are tit-for-tat and nobody wants an import ban or something screwing up a product launch; and it's been largely settled that nobody has enough patents to stop the other from building 'a smartphone' of some reasonable usability); but being a superpower is good fun; and patents are still useful when encouraging people with neat stuff to sell to you rather than try to go it alone.

      (In an ideal world, hopefully we'd see both parties lobbying for changes that make this agreement obsolete; and if they do I'll revise my opinion; but that's still theoretical at this point.)

    2. Re:That'e exactly the wrong outcome! by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So, you mean they've now formed a cartel designed to abuse their combined market power to keep other players out of the industry?

      Say it isn't so. I'm shocked, shocked I tell 'ya.

      Anti-competitive behavior in the free market? Why that seems so unlikely.

      No, wait, the other one ... big players will always for cartels to collude to fuck everybody else over, that's right.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    3. Re:That'e exactly the wrong outcome! by swillden · · Score: 5, Interesting

      If they really want things to change, they should agree to work towards abolishing stupid patents---not to create semi-trusts that other companies have to fight.

      Google has been spending tens of millions lobbying for patent reform, and only started to playing the patent game when it became clear that changing it wasn't going to work quickly enough -- though they haven't stopped trying to reform patents. The apparent contradiction has led some some pundits to question their motives, though I don't see that it's really a contradiction... the patent system is badly broken, but that doesn't mean Google can function in the industry as it is without playing the patent game. It's perfectly reasonable to play by rules you hate because that's what you have to do while simultaneously trying to change the rules.

      Personally, I think software patents are a crock, but I'm listed as inventor on a few of them. I hate the game, but it is what it is so I play it while donating to organizations trying to change it. My rule is that I donate 50% of my patent bonuses to the EFF. I suppose if I were a better man I'd donate 100% (after taxes), but I do like to have some recompense for the effort I put into writing disclosures.

      (Disclaimer: I'm a Google engineer, but I'm speaking for myself only, not for Google.)

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  2. Wait think of the lawyers! by RichMan · · Score: 4, Funny

    How are lawyers supposed to make a living if people act reasonably?

  3. Subtitle says by willworkforbeer · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Patent Lawyers Threaten to Sue Google, Microsoft for Loss of Income. "

    One litigator, misty eyed, related the personal side to this tragedy, "We had just ordered our (sniff) little Bernard and his sister Berkley their own matching custom ostrich-leather maid saddles... but now all our plans, even summering in the Maldives, everything is on hold....All this 'drop the litigation' talk is madness I tell you, Madness!"

    --
    Pretending this is my office full of bitter coworkers..
    1. Re:Subtitle says by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      Been watching Secretary again? And again?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Subtitle says by willworkforbeer · · Score: 2

      Been watching Secretary again? And again?

      Well, no. But now I'm, um... curious? I think.
      Tell me, is there lots and lots of dirty lawyer shaming?

      --
      Pretending this is my office full of bitter coworkers..
  4. I don't trust either by CSHARP123 · · Score: 2

    We need to see how they work with other start-ups and third party companies. Since the complete details are not disclosed, does this mean, MS is not going to sue other Android marketeers?

  5. Coming soon, the greatest novel of our time! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2

    All Quiet in the District Court for the East District of Texas...

  6. Re:Admiral Ackbar by Xest · · Score: 2

    Yeah, it may well be. I'm intrigued to know what's in this for Google. Are Android phones still being artificially inflated in price by Microsoft's frivolous patent shakedowns against all Android manufacturers?

    The whole reason Google retaliated was because of that idiocy, and if Google is ceasing it's retaliation to halt Microsoft's counter-retaliation then Microsoft has won, and Google has lost hard. Anyone know if Microsoft is giving up on the billions it rakes in from those Android shakedowns? If it isn't then it's hard to see how this is anything other than a humiliating defeat for Google.

  7. Alternate title by penguinoid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Patent trolls agree not to ruin their arsenal, save it for innovators.

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  8. Meanwhile... on another battlefront... by spacepimp · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Microsoft is pushing for prosecution that Android is an abusive Monopoly for incorporating their own Google based apps. fairsearch.org is comprised almost entirely by MS and their subsidiaries. There is no kinder gentler Microsoft.