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Microsoft sues Motorola and its Android phones for patent infringement
In a continuing, drawn-out, and rather banal storyline that's reminiscent of a cheap daytime soap, Microsoft has sued Motorola for infringing nine patents in its Android phones. The patents cover functions such as "synchronizing e-mail, calendars and contacts."This all comes just a few days after Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's annual bonus was slashed due to poor performance in the mobile sector -- the failed Kin and the ailing Windows Mobile market share -- and we wouldn't be surprised if this is just an opening salvo in a rather extensive plan to attain mobile market dominance.
If you weren't aware, the mobile phone patent war is rather heated at the moment: Nokia is suing Apple (and Apple has counter-sued), Apple is suing HTC, and Oracle is suing Google. Anyone would think that a lot of companies have their livelihood invested in the smartphone market or something...
Comments
17
Subscribe to commentsJoeOct 4th 2010 7:09AM
This seems to me like more of a game than anything else. The patents Microsoft chose to contest, syncing email and calendar, etc., are very basic functions that could nearly cripple an Android phone. I'm guessing we'll see MS ask for an injunction requiring these features be disabled on all Android phones. This will scare people looking at buying Android handsets, of course, especially corporate buyers, and then the judge will toss the request. But the damage will have been done, and Microsoft will have won a small PR victory by claiming that their products, because they're not open source, aren't subject to such silly lawsuits.
SilverWaveOct 4th 2010 7:49AM
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20101001012258574
Quote:
Some Amicus Briefs in Support of Microsoft in the i4i Case - Google's as text - Updated 2Xs
Friday, October 01 2010 @ 07:02 AM EDT
Now I've seen everything. Wal-Mart is telling the US Supreme Court in an amicus brief that the US patent system is irrational and unfair. And it points the finger of blame straight at the Federal Circuit.
SilverWaveOct 4th 2010 7:51AM
Federal Circuit - Run by Lawyers for Lawyers.
MatthewOct 4th 2010 8:59AM
Are there any pictures of Steve Ballmer where his mouth is closed and he doesn't look either crazy or angry?
caOct 4th 2010 9:49AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Ballmer
Sebastian AnthonyOct 4th 2010 9:55AM
That's a very, very good question...
SilverWaveOct 4th 2010 4:57PM
hmm that link by ca still fails by the "Looks Crazy" test.
Fester from the Adams Family...
sRcOct 4th 2010 8:08AM
from the report I initially read on this, these patents Motorola had previously been paying for the license for, but let the agreement lapse and didn't renew it.
Sebastian AnthonyOct 4th 2010 9:56AM
Yep -- they let their license lapse in 2007 or so.
OskarOct 4th 2010 9:35AM
USA and it's retarded patent system...
EJ HillOct 4th 2010 1:44PM
And this kind of retarded, childish, behavior is exactly why I refuse to use any Microsoft product. Hate Windows. Hate Office. Hate Windows Mobile. Can't wait for Google Chrome OS. Hope more people give MS the boot.
RichOct 4th 2010 1:51PM
So basically MS phone strategy is:
Put out crappy MS Phone
When MS Phone fails Sue everyone that competed against MS Phone
MS license or on all competitors phone
Profit
SilverWaveOct 4th 2010 4:55PM
They are trying to compete against free (Android) so they are trying to impose costs via software patents.
SilverWaveOct 4th 2010 5:21PM
hmm which is true?
Microsoft's Ballmer gets a raise
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/09/ballmers_pay_up_6_as_record_revenue_outweighs_mobile_struggles.html
Or your note about a cut?
Sebastian AnthonyOct 4th 2010 5:26PM
His bonus was only half of what it theoretically could be, or something like that.
MS's overall performance has been good, which probably accounts for the raise!
SilverWaveOct 4th 2010 6:18PM
Found this quote:
"Microsoft last week disclosed that CEO Steve Ballmer received a 6 percent increase in overall compensation in the 2010 fiscal year, although he received half of his potential bonus, with the board balancing the success of products such as Windows 7 against the company's struggles in mobile phones and tablets."
From Here:
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2010/10/goldman_downgrades_microsoft_says_change_in_cource.html
SilverWaveOct 4th 2010 6:27PM
ohh interesting:
"Microsoft shares hit by downgrade"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11470022