Motorola, Inc. today announced that it’s subsidiary, Motorola Mobility, Inc., has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iTouch and certain Mac computers infringe Motorola patents. Motorola Mobility also filed patent infringement complaints against Apple in the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern District of Florida.
From Motorola, Inc.’s press release, verbatim:
Overall, Motorola Mobility’s three complaints include 18 patents, which relate to early-stage innovations developed by Motorola in key technology areas found on many of Apple’s core products and associated services, including MobileMe and the App Store. The Motorola patents include wireless communication technologies, such as WCDMA (3G), GPRS, 802.11 and antenna design, and key smartphone technologies including wireless email, proximity sensing, software application management, location-based services and multi-device synchronization.
Motorola Mobility has requested that the ITC commence an investigation into Apple’s use of Motorola’s patents and, among other things, issue an Exclusion Order barring Apple’s importation of infringing products, prohibiting further sales of infringing products that have already been imported, and halting the marketing, advertising, demonstration and warehousing of inventory for distribution and use of such imported products in the United States. In the District Court actions, Motorola Mobility has requested that Apple cease using Motorola’s patented technology and provide compensation for Apple’s past infringement.
Kirk Dailey, corporate vice president of intellectual property at Motorola Mobility, said, “Motorola has innovated and patented throughout every cycle of the telecommunications industry evolution, from Motorola’s invention of the cell phone to its development of premier smartphone products. We have extensively licensed our industry-leading intellectual property portfolio, consisting of tens of thousands of patents in the U.S. and worldwide. After Apple’s late entry into the telecommunications market, we engaged in lengthy negotiations, but Apple has refused to take a license. We had no choice but to file these complaints to halt Apple’s continued infringement. Motorola will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its R&D and intellectual property, which are critical to the company’s business.”
Source: Motorola, Inc.
MacDailyNews Take: And the plot thickens…
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
Now these suits and counter-suits are just getting stupid.
It shows how useless the patent office is in dealing with today’s technology.
Now these suits and counter-suits are just getting stupid.
It shows how useless the patent office is in dealing with today’s technology.
The patent lawyers are making a killing off mobile phones this week. In the end they are the ones who will win.
The patent lawyers are making a killing off mobile phones this week. In the end they are the ones who will win.
So have have Apple sued Mororola over Android yet, I lose track, if not expect it any day on the same basis as the actions against HTC.
So have have Apple sued Mororola over Android yet, I lose track, if not expect it any day on the same basis as the actions against HTC.
Moto should tread carefully — Steve might just buy them up with pocket change and put the whole sorrowful bunch out on the street. They so blew it within the last decade and now they are riding on Googles questionable tails. This was a company that was innovative and cutting edge in their day but certainly lost their way. How sad. Not unlike Kodak, who had so much of the technology in their hands but couldn’t or wouldn’t challenge their cash cow and develop innovative products. Now they too are litigation happy. Don’t develop something, sue!
Moto should tread carefully — Steve might just buy them up with pocket change and put the whole sorrowful bunch out on the street. They so blew it within the last decade and now they are riding on Googles questionable tails. This was a company that was innovative and cutting edge in their day but certainly lost their way. How sad. Not unlike Kodak, who had so much of the technology in their hands but couldn’t or wouldn’t challenge their cash cow and develop innovative products. Now they too are litigation happy. Don’t develop something, sue!
Well in this case the estate of Hedy Lamarr should sue everybody!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6138928-7.html
“… How much sexier can you get than a woman who started her professional life in a minor, scandalous film and eventually went on to invent the technology that enables modern encrypted satellite communications and cell phone operations, stopping along the way to escape Nazis and engineer a hugely successful Hollywood career?
Hedy Lamarr. Stunning good looks and the classic come-hither bedroom gaze were just the beginning of her story. First, after beginning her acting career in a vaguely naughty Czech film, she became an influential Viennese socialite, hobnobbing and listening closely to heads of state and military officials. Said to have smuggled herself out of Austria and a bad marriage to a Nazi munitions dealer, Lamarr then negotiated a contract with Louis B. Mayer and launched a gigantic career in Hollywood films.
Well in this case the estate of Hedy Lamarr should sue everybody!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6138928-7.html
“… How much sexier can you get than a woman who started her professional life in a minor, scandalous film and eventually went on to invent the technology that enables modern encrypted satellite communications and cell phone operations, stopping along the way to escape Nazis and engineer a hugely successful Hollywood career?
Hedy Lamarr. Stunning good looks and the classic come-hither bedroom gaze were just the beginning of her story. First, after beginning her acting career in a vaguely naughty Czech film, she became an influential Viennese socialite, hobnobbing and listening closely to heads of state and military officials. Said to have smuggled herself out of Austria and a bad marriage to a Nazi munitions dealer, Lamarr then negotiated a contract with Louis B. Mayer and launched a gigantic career in Hollywood films.
Very interesting! Maybe they can all start suing the patent system for false protection. The companies could then take their complaint on the world patent system to the ITC.
Now that would be something to see.
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Very interesting! Maybe they can all start suing the patent system for false protection. The companies could then take their complaint on the world patent system to the ITC.
Now that would be something to see.
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This may be one reason why Apple is sitting on its pile of cash. They know they will be in the courts for a long time.
This may be one reason why Apple is sitting on its pile of cash. They know they will be in the courts for a long time.
If motorola invented it then:
Where is their iPhone?
Where is their iPad?
Where is their innovation?
Where are their revolutionary products?
You know some cave man probably invented the wheel, and it sat in a cave until some other guy (probably and distant relative of SJ) came along and figured out what to do with it. Patent or no patent these trolls need to be stopped. A huge waste of time and resources.
If motorola invented it then:
Where is their iPhone?
Where is their iPad?
Where is their innovation?
Where are their revolutionary products?
You know some cave man probably invented the wheel, and it sat in a cave until some other guy (probably and distant relative of SJ) came along and figured out what to do with it. Patent or no patent these trolls need to be stopped. A huge waste of time and resources.
“prohibiting…use of such products in the United States.”
Yeah, right.
“prohibiting…use of such products in the United States.”
Yeah, right.
The question is whether Motorola’s patent portfolio is worth $10B. That is how much Apple would need in order to buy a controlling (majority) stake at current stock value ($8.50, $19B market cap). I seriously doubt it. Consequently, Apple will just aggressively pursue litigation to defend the patents.
The question is whether Motorola’s patent portfolio is worth $10B. That is how much Apple would need in order to buy a controlling (majority) stake at current stock value ($8.50, $19B market cap). I seriously doubt it. Consequently, Apple will just aggressively pursue litigation to defend the patents.
Motorola is just panicking because iPhone is coming to Verizon
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Motorola is just panicking because iPhone is coming to Verizon
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Apple is a deep pocket these days. As such it is a target for litigation by anyone who is looking for a free lunch.
Historically ( forget revisionist history), Apple has always been the oracle of technology and the leader that everyone copies.
We all know which technology company is the eternal innovator.
Most of these lawsuits are nothing but fishing expeditions by companies hoping to get favorable judgements on patent infringement by obfuscating issues and technological issues and facts in presenting them to technophobic and technology illiterate judges and juries in the hopes of persuading them ( nudge nudge, wink wink) of merit…
These verdicts can be repeatedly appealed all the way up to the supreme court at great expense of time, money and can be very distracting to a company’s focus.
Usually the companies will settle for nuisance value rather than incur the hassle.
Apple, as customary, will settle any cases that may have merit before they even get to court round 1.
Apple is a deep pocket these days. As such it is a target for litigation by anyone who is looking for a free lunch.
Historically ( forget revisionist history), Apple has always been the oracle of technology and the leader that everyone copies.
We all know which technology company is the eternal innovator.
Most of these lawsuits are nothing but fishing expeditions by companies hoping to get favorable judgements on patent infringement by obfuscating issues and technological issues and facts in presenting them to technophobic and technology illiterate judges and juries in the hopes of persuading them ( nudge nudge, wink wink) of merit…
These verdicts can be repeatedly appealed all the way up to the supreme court at great expense of time, money and can be very distracting to a company’s focus.
Usually the companies will settle for nuisance value rather than incur the hassle.
Apple, as customary, will settle any cases that may have merit before they even get to court round 1.
Motorola was a big innovator at the birth of cellular technology. They doubtlessly have a huge patent portfolio. Regardless of what you think of today’s Moto phones, you can’t ignore their past stature.