“After explaining how crucial patent protection is to innovation and progress, Smith gave a nod of support for Apple’s patent suit against HTC, the Taiwanese company that makes most of the Google-powered smartphones,” Dudley reports. “Apple is going after HTC for alleged patent infringement, but the suit is widely seen as an attack by the iPhone maker on Google’s surging phone business.”
“Smith suggested taking a broader and more sympathetic view of Apple’s case, saying ‘the fact that there’s litigation in this area is not necessarily a bad thing,'” Dudley reports. “Smith welcomed Apple’s lawsuit as the opening salvo in a bigger effort to sort out who owns the technology used in smartphones and start collecting a standard set of royalties. License holders have been talking about this behind the scenes for some time, and Apple brought it out in the open, he said.”
Dudley reports, “Will Microsoft go further and get directly involved in Apple’s suit against HTC? Smith wouldn’t say when I asked after his speech. ‘I think it’s premature to endorse or offer any other reaction to it,’ he said. ‘But as I mentioned, the fact that there are efforts to sort out these issues are on balance a positive development for the market because they typically take an important role in sorting this kind of issue out.'”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn W” for the heads up.]
Uh-oh. Microsoft’s in favor of it. That probably means it’s a bad thing.
So Google has become the Microsoft of the 21st century….. and Microsoft is becomming the Microsoft of the 1980’s……..
Film at eleven.
“BING”
Maybe Microsoft is kissing up to Apple because they realize that the iPhone/iPad platform is going to be bigger than they are. This is ironic that 26 years ago, Microsoft held Word and Excel as hostage over Apple in exchange for Macintosh tech. With iWork being available first and fully compatible with Office, it seems that Microsoft may be trying to be chums with Apple while they develop iOffice for iPad. Is Google becoming “One enemy to rule them all?”
Well looks like another “bada bing, bada bung” from Microsoft opinion.
Microsoft probably has a couple of multi-touch patents that it would like to get involved in license fees or cross patent agreements.
There’s always an angle behind any form of praise from Microsoft.
Microsoft can smell which way the wind is blowing. Is there a Windows driven iPhone in the future mix.???? Many thought an Intel Mac was unlikely. If history is any guide in the computer realm, there is no such thing as “unlikely”.
And as KeepHopeAlive says “BING”.
My guess, is MS knows they will be infringing on Apple with their 7 ,
“sort out who owns the technology used in smartphones and start collecting a standard set of royalties.”
and wants to avoid future litigation by getting an agreement with Apple, boy how things have changed
I liked it best when microsoft and google were tearing at each other and Apple could sit back and watch. But when google started stealing Apple’s hard work they had to take action.
“Smith gave a nod of support for Apple’s patent suit against HTC”
Yea, we’re getting Bing!
BINGo
Be careful Steve- Steve Jobs that is.
Make damn sure what you get from Microsoft is worth it… by a factor of 10
I don’t like this- I don’t like it at all.
“Mr. Potter- I’d like to talk this over with my wife —
“sure George – take all the time you need.- in the meantime- I’ll draw up the papers.”
All I heard is Apple comands respect, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done in the past. You will respect the Apple!!!!
Breaking news:
Efforts to do things typically take an important role in doing things.
I can hear the chatter at the general counsel’s water cooler:
“Go on record and side with Apple- that’ll really fsck with them!”
Who says M$ doesn’t have a sense of humor?
Micros**t favors litigation?
Nah.
Simple – What’s bad for Google is good for Microsoft.
Microsoft and Apple are not really competitors these days – Microsoft mostly profits from software sales and Apple mostly profits from hardware sales. Compared to the Apple/Google relationship, I’d almost call Apple/Microsoft a partnership. Soon, it may be a partnership against Google.
“the fact that there are efforts to sort out these issues are on balance a positive development for the market because they typically take an important role in sorting this kind of issue out.'”
Uh… “the fact that there are efforts to sort out these issues are… a positive development… because they… take an important role in sorting this kind of issue out.” Hello? Is anybody home?
@alansky: C’mon, this is Microsoft’s general counsel we’re talking about. The man’s never been on the winning side of a court case. WhHat dobyou really expect?
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lie down with dogs and you get fleas…
Google is Microsoft biggest threat and sees an ally in Apple.
Dear Google, stick with what works and don’t play in shark infested waters especially when you are compelled to go against your partners. Bad show.
If Android were developed by a Chinese clone-phone manufacturer (e.g. HTC) and not Google, would there be ANY support for Android’s copying Apple’s designs?
Before the iPhone appeared there were dozens of mock-ups of guess-iPhones that Google could have copied, or even developed their own ideas. Google needs to innovate or pay royalties – that is how the patent system should be working.
He’s a lawyer, and lawyers get fat on lawsuits. Of course, he’s all in favor of litigation.
AppleSoft vs Google… FIGHT!!
If you can’t beat ’em, let someone else beat ’em.
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Apple needs to focus.
All this talk of killing the iPhone, or Google or Microsoft is ridiculous – nerds need to get a grip.