“Judge Dr. Matthias Zigann of the Munich I Regional Court just told Google and its Motorola Mobility subsidiary in no uncertain terms that his court is at this point (prior to counsel’s argument on claim construction, infringement and validity) inclined to hold Google Inc., its subsidiary Motorola Mobility LLC and MMI’s German subsidiary liable for infringement of a key Microsoft patent, EP0845124 on a ‘computer system for identifying local resources and method therefor,’ which is the European equivalent of U.S. Patent No. 6,240,360,” FLorian Mueller reports for FOSS Patents.
“Google has not been able so far to convince the court that the patent is highly probable to be invalidated at the end of a parallel nullity proceeding,” Mueller reports. “Microsoft is seeking, and now very likely to obtain, a German patent injunction against the Google Maps service, the Google Maps Android client app, and web browsers providing access to Google Maps.”
Mueller reports, “In order to comply with the injunction that looms large, Google would have to disable access to Google Maps from computers using a German IP address, discontinue shipping the Google Maps Android app in the German market, and distribute web browsers in Germany only if they block access to Google Maps in a way comparable to Internet filters used for the purpose of parental controls.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Oops.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Sarah” and “iDjon” for the heads up.]
“Google Maps faces ban in Germany over patent infringement”
Don’t be silly. Blatant patent infringement doesn’t get products banned.
(Unless you’re a farmer growing seeds you’ve collected from last year’s crop.)
Germany seems to have a solid system for enforcing patents. Wonder how they deal with trolling compared to Texas which is trollsville.
Florian Mueller (Foss Patents) is German, so his ability to read the German courts is probably far better than other patent law observers.
What’s up with Wall Street? AAPL is up and GOOG is down.
I read a story yesterday that Google has replaced Apple as the latest hedge fund manager’s target. Whip up negative rumors, but lower, and later drive up the price to sell higher.
…make that buy lower (not but lower). My bad.
Certainly not a good day for Google regarding their reputation for intellectual property: Vringo, WebM and now Maps.
Love it.
Wouldn’t it be nice if MSFT got the same kind of ruling in the US and Japan?
Oh, the horror.
The patent system is shit. Pure and simple.
That’s what Google is arguing. How far do you think that attitude will get them in the German courts?
google can kiss it where the sun don’t shine.
Can Google pay-off, sorry… I meant to say “increase lobbying effort”, German politicians to lower the possibility of ban?… Just like what Google are going here in the US.
Google is screwed; German law will triumph over this herd of nerds.
Google will pay Microsoft royalties in arrears, from which Microsoft must pay the German people, after which Google is free to leave Germany, or stay. Pay to stay, that is.
This is far from over; financial compensation for journalists is next on the docket; Google must explain why they don’t have to pay for any and all links that direct the public to accessible content located on any server under German oversight!
In other words, Germany might be the first country to begin charging Google a tax, payable to the author of the product in which Google is linking, whether it be a YouTube video or a newspaper article, Germany believes they are entitled to a share of Google’s money; if Google is allowed to profit from hits, then so too should the content holder.
In any case, my sense is, Google’s days of skimming are over.