“Google has launched a stinging attack on major mobile phone rival Apple, saying its smartphone lawsuits are inspired by jealousy and a lack of innovation in its own iPhone,” Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson reports for Perth Now.
“The criticism, by former Google CEO and now executive chairman Eric Schmidt, follows the US International Trade Commissions initial ruling that HTC infringed two of Apple’s phone patents in its Google Android-based phones,” Dudley-Nicholson reports. “If upheld, the decision could see Apple force other Android phone makers to pay significant royalties to their main competitor.”
Advertisement: Students, Parents and Faculty save up to $200 on a new Mac.
Dudley-Nicholson reports, “Speaking at Google’s Mobile Revolution conference in Tokyo, Mr Schmidt said Apple’s case was inspired by jealousy and designed to shut down its fastest-growing rival. ‘The big news in the past year has been the explosion of Google Android handsets and this means our competitors are responding,’ he said. ‘Because they are not responding with innovation, they’re responding with lawsuits. We have not done anything wrong and these lawsuits are just inspired by our success.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Success:
• Changewave: Apple iPhone demand outgrows Android phones in 2011 – July 18, 2011
• Analyst: Apple takes 50% of handset industry profits ahead of 100 million iPhone year – July 8, 2011
• Nielsen: Apple iPhone drives U.S. smartphone growth as Android stagnates – June 30, 2011
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: 🙂 Google’s fear is palpable as evidenced by Schmidt’s increasingly nonsensical statements.
As the dominoes begin to tumble, do know evil Google is cracking.
As Eric T. Mole likely knows well, this time around there’s no poorly-written contract signed by an unprepared sugared water salesbozo for those inclined to rip-off Apple’s IP to hide behind.
• We’ve been pushing the state-of-the-art in every facet of design… We’ve been innovating like crazy for the last few years on this and we’ve filed for over 200 patents for all of the inventions in iPhone. And we intend to protect them. – Apple CEO Steve Jobs when unveiling iPhone, January 9, 2007
• We like competition as long as they don’t rip off our IP, in which case we will go after them. We will not stand for having our IP ripped-off and we will use any weapons at our disposal [to stop it]. – Apple COO Tim Cook, January 21, 2009
Don’t steal IP.
Related articles:
Taiwan’s HTC shares tumble after U.S. ITC’s Apple patent ruling – July 18, 2011
HTC to appeal U.S. ITC ruling that company infringed on Apple patents – July 18, 2011
Apple’s U.S. ITC patent victory threatens future of Google’s Android – July 16, 2011
How Google’s Android infringes on Apple’s patents in U.S. ITC determination – July 16, 2011
U.S. ITC finds HTC infringed upon Apple patents – July 15, 2011
HTC decries ‘Apple’s constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market’ – July 12, 2011
HTC stock tumbles after Apple’s new patent lawsuit – July 12, 2011
Apple’s second ITC complaint against HTC Android products dissected – July 11, 2011
Apple files second U.S. ITC trade complaint against HTC, seeks to block HTC imports – July 11, 2011
Steve Jobs loads up on high-powered legal team to protect Apple’s intellectual property – April 22, 2010
Apple’s patent infringement lawsuit: The elephant in HTC’s new headquarters – April 2, 2010
Apple patent infringement lawsuit applies pressure to HTC – March 3, 2010
Apple puts the entire industry on notice by suing HTC for patent infringement – March 03, 2010
What Apple vs. HTC could mean for the future of mobile devices – March 03, 2010
Apple looks for expedited proceedings in patent infringement case against HTC – March 03, 2010
Patent lawyer: Apple’s going after HTC first, Motorola’s next, but Google’s the real target – March 03, 2010
The specific Apple patents over which Apple is suing HTC – March 02, 2010
Boom! Apple sues HTC for infringing on 20 iPhone patents – March 02, 2010
@Marco,
Are you high? I mean really? So Apple should just take it up the @@@ instead of protecting their patents?
In the past I tolerated Google’s stupidity. Now, I think it’s time to start transitioning away from Google.
If Apple isn’t innovating, why is the rest of the world copying Apple products?
To use a metaphor, Apple has built a new house, and Google’s extended family is trying to squat in it. And now Eric is outraged that instead of Apple building another house, they are trying to evict the trespassers?
Pink Cowboy Suit
Just Sayin’
Desperation!
What was there before Google? Yahoo… before that… can’t seem to remember… point being: Schmidt knows its a matter of time before his sudo-empire crumbles under its own weight… Notice how features are dropping like fly’s from Google maps, earth and others, they claim one thing, (its not working for example) but me thinks its due to infringement lawsuits. Google is what M$ would have been if they thought the internet was going to be a big deal (Gates didn’t think so in 1995!). Apple, they pretty much inovated everything under the sun, something no other company on earth can claim! (Almost) everything Jobs touches turns to GOLD (AAPL) so let Schmidt vomit his opinions that, in reality, don’t hold up to facts, figures or reality. Google has nothing but ad revenue to keep it afloat. If no one is buying stuff, Ad’s dissapear!!! along with Google’s bottom line, and with nothing much to stand on, they are the next Compuserve!
Ha Ha, big suit wearing fool Schmidt!
Dear Eric,
They ALREADY innovated and you copied. Now you’re gonna PAY… and then they’ll INNOVATE some more.
Apple’s not about to let Google become the new Microsoft by ripping off Apple’s ideas.
Here’s what he _wanted_ to say: Instead of innovating _more_ so we can find new features to _copy_ they’re now suing us.
Boo-hoo Eric Schmidt. The blatant copying has to stop at some point – I am actually surprised Apple let them do it for as long as they did.
“We have not done anything wrong and these lawsuits are just inspired by our success.’”
Uh, that’s not what the ITC thought. Crybaby.
HEY GOOGLY:
true innovators are not worried about lawsuits
if you are whacked by lawsuits you didn’t innovate but stole
Long live the king of idiots !!
Go to Safari, then down to Preferences, then click General, then click Google to the right of Default search engine, then
choose Yahoo or Bing. Enough said…vote with your feet.
Covet Schmidt was never a friend…ever! This is almost as bad as blaming Bush.
An expected comment from a compant with no telephony patents of their own!
Lawsuits protect the product of innovation though Eric!
He should talk, that Benedict Arnold!
Go ahead and switch to Bing or Yahoo. Only one you’ll really hurt is yourself (i.e., you won’t be finding what you’re looking for). Gotta admit, Google is the king of search. Also gotta admit, copy or not, Google puts out some pretty nice software. As good as Apples? Probably not. But pretty darn good nonetheless. The lawsuits pretty much indicate that Apple truly is afraid of Google and Android. Where were the lawsuits a few years ago before Android starting gobbling up market share at an alarming rate?
Most people on this site seem to hate Android. But what you fail to realize is that competition is good. The rapid rate of improvement in Android has and is driving Apple to continue to rapidly innovate and improve their products. In most cases, they’re still ahead. In some cases they’re playing catch up (i.e., the new iOS notification system for example — it’s a blatant copy from Android). In any case, competition is good. We’re the winners!
@ Rick RE: “The lawsuits pretty much indicate that Apple truly is afraid of Google and Android.”
Apple has to protect their IP. Apple justifiably fears that Google will be allowed to continue to steal Apple’s properties. Because of how patents work and the delays in getting them, Apple has had to wait it out before taking action. Now they are ready to protect themselves as they should.
Competition is good when it’s not stolen property. Google’s iOS ripoff via Android is theft from Apple. The lawsuit is justified.
We’re not winners here.
I agree with you — Google has definitely ripped off Apple’s IP. But it can and does go both ways (i.e., the new iOS notification system).
But I disagree with your statement that the consumer is not the winner. They most certainly are in this case. Look at Apple’s pricing on the iPhone 3GS. Think that would happen just out of the goodness of Apple’s heart? Not a chance. They’re trying to compete for the low end smartphone market. A few years ago, they didn’t need to even try to compete — they were miles ahead of the competition. Not the case today. If you are a consumer, you most certainly are a winner in this case. Now, if you’re an Apple stock holder, then that’s a different story altogether.
Hi Rick!
I believe with iOS 5 (along with the accompanying ecosystem that iOS has), Apple is indeed miles ahead of the competition.
I agree that competition is good, and other companies have shown that you can attempt to compete without stealing other companies intellectual property. Perhaps Google can have original intellectual properties of their own without thievery of Apple’s products?
We don’t need Android nor anything from Google to have competition. Look at Microsoft, for instance, with Windows Phone 7. Windows Phone 7 isn’t as good as Apple’s iOS, but it IS unique, capable and original. Which begs the question: If other companies such as Microsoft are creating phone operating systems without infringing Apple’s IP, why can’t Google?
Android should be killed.
I see your point, and I somewhat agree with it. But Windows Phone 7 just isn’t gaining any traction in the market. Maybe it will pick up, but I’m not so sure. In any case, it isn’t providing any real competition to iOS. On the other hand, Android most certainly is. So while it may not be sound business practice on Google’s part (or at least of the Android hardware vendors part), I do believe the consumer has still benefited immensely (especially those tied to Verizon or any other carrier other than AT&T for the last few years).
In the end, Android hardware vendors will likely make an agreement with Apple and pay them a small fee for each phone sold. Although it will cost those vendors, it’s better than the alternative which would have been to simply go out of business because they could not provide a competitive product. So they still win.
And the consumer? Yeah, they win too. Apple simply can’t supply iPhones fast enough to keep up with demand. But with competition, the consumer can buy an Android phone and still have a reasonably capable device. So while I do see your point, it’s hard to argue that the consumer has benefited from Android.
lol, seriously. Did you just justify google’s theft of potentially billions of dollars from apple just because they can not make their popular products fast enough?
Yeah I guess consumers benefit from Android’s:
* Lack of interface standards
* Fragmentation
* Shoddy hardware
* Buggy core apps
* OS lockups
* Lack of software
* Lack of accessories
* Abundance of malware / phishing scams
* Google selling you to it’s advertisers
Wait… how are consumers winning again?
Yes competition is good. Apple did all the heavy lifting. They actually thought about every aspect of how things would work & why. They thought about the OS in mobile devices & how it would be used. Then proceeded to take the risks that entails to get that product to market. Google didn’t. They just copied the Big Idea & bolted on a few features. All you have to do is search the internet to find out what Google’s (innovative) idea of a phone was before the iPhone hit. It was a Blackberry rip-off. Yeah, they innovate! Of course they are moving quickly. They didn’t have to hash out a paradigm shifting idea. They just copied it & added features. So what. Apple worked on building a platform. Google has no clue on how to do that, it’s obvious. It doesn’t mean they won’t eventually figure it but, it isn’t going to happen overnight. No customer support experience, no UI experience, no platform building experience, no OS experience, no retail experience, no hardware experience etc., etc., etc. They sell advertising. Their focus is not the enduser. Their focus is your personal information. Wow a notification system. Okay take everything away Google “borrowed” from Apple. What’s left (not een a functional OS)…I guess some call that innovation. Now take away what Apple borrowed from Google…you still have a perfectly functional OS.
Schmuck must not have watched the iOS 5 / Lion keynote. Apple is abundantly vigorously innovating with amazing burgeoning useful new features and moving rapidly toward the future.
Cutting Google swinging off Apple’s coattails is a good thing. Especially since Schmuck is the worst beast, a traitor, a treacherous lying piece of scum.
At least MSFT had the guts to do something different. I mean Win Phone 7 still sucks but at least they didn’t rip off Apple. Google on the other hand is an evil sack of crap that straight out stole IP from Apple. Schmidt must have some big spheroids to even whisper that Apple’s not innovating. Eff you Mole.
Herr Schmidt is delusional, sounds like a crybaby with handcuffs on going through sugar withdrawal. Go to your room- you’re grounded!
Schmidt’s statements are so far from reality that they’re not worthy of a response.
Google’s “successes” with Android happened because they stole ideas from Apple. If they didn’t know that Apple invented and then applied for the patent on the technology, then shame on them and their lawyers.
Sure Apple doesn’t innovate, that’s why this clown sat on the Apple Board of Directors the whole time the “weren’t” innovating.
Apple’s already done the innovation! That’s why you’re getting sued Schmidt! They did the innovation, and you’re trying to steal it.
Eric T. Mole! FSCKING PATHETIC!
I have ordered a Container full of shovels for Schmuck and his team. I may end up ordering another container full after that speech. lol