“A trade panel judge ruled that Motorola Mobility infringed Microsoft’s patented technology in making its Android cellphones, Microsoft said on Tuesday,” Diane Bartz reports for Reuters.
“A U.S. International Trade Commission judge found that Motorola Mobility infringed one Microsoft patent which makes it possible for users to schedule meetings using mobile devices, the company said,” Bartz reports. “‘We are pleased with the ITC’s initial determination finding Motorola violated four claims of a Microsoft patent,’ said David Howard, Microsoft’s deputy general counsel, in a statement.”
“Microsoft said the infringing devices included Android phones like the Motorola Droid 2, the Droid X, Cliq XT, Devour, Backflip and others, including the associated software,” Bartz reports. “The decision will be reviewed by the full commission. That ruling will come in the spring. The commission will also consider Microsoft’s request that the phones be barred from importation into the United States.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Another domino falls…
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
Die, Android, DIE!
I concur.
Google’s lawyer: “Why is everybody always picking on us? Waaaaaah!”
it’s pretty bad when you are reduced to copying microsoft.
That’s hoe crappy Google Android is. Caught copying MS of all companies. Hilarious.
+
Guaranteed iOS uses the same method covered by the patent in question. Apple just has a broad cross-licensing agreement in place with Microsoft that precludes them from going to court against one another.
It’s an odd feeling rooting for M$. Still, hard to keep from smiling at this one.
I’m beginning to think they are paying off these judges to keep getting win after win. They prolly learned the trick during 80’s against Apple…
I can’t root for Microsoft. Ever. The enemy of my enemy is sometimes just another enemy.
As for the patent, it sounds a little farfetched. I don’t feel like chasing down the details, though. It would likely be a waste of time.
These ITC rulings are minor compared to the elephant in the room that’s going to choke Android, which will strike at the heart of the code, where Android blatantly copied Java.
If Google omelets the Motorola takeover, their IP portfolio comes attached to a stack of lawsuits. They would probably still want it since they have no mobile patents. Their IP portfolio consists of very little significant patents aside from the search algorithms, and sooner or later judges may tire of giving Android a pass in the interest of competition.
I thought I typed “completes.” I must have missed the “c” and the auto-spell-correct made “omelets” out of it. There is perhaps an appropriate poetic meaning here.
When does the illusion that android is free for phone manufacturers finally die?
We find your guilty of copy infringement.
We’ll decide if we really mean it in . . . the Spring?!?!?
Why take so long, did their ditto machine break down again?
Like I’ve often mentioned, Apple can learn a lot about lawyers and legal proceedings from the MS.
It’s really hard not to laugh at Moto on this. Having second thoughts about your bride-to-be?
Google made an error in copying companies that the could not crush, Oracle, Apple & Microsoft. All have deep pockets and have a history of being litigious.
When Microsoft was dumb enough to copy code it was usually from small firms they could crush or buy. There are a few exceptions, like Quicktime.