“Through a Bloomberg article I became aware of the fact that the European Commission’s clearance decision on Google’s proposed acquisition of Motorola Mobility (MMI) has just been published and that it makes reference to patent cross-licensing negotiations between Apple and MMI,” Florian Mueller reports for FOSS Patents.
“Negotiations in late 2011 to reach a settlement had reportedly seen Motorola demand that Apple provide licensing for its entire non-standard patent collection just to get licenses for Motorola’s 3G standards patents,” Mueller reports reports. “Motorola had been aiming for a cross-licensing deal that would help all Android makers with the knowledge that Google’s takeover might be approved.”
Mueller reports reports, “There’s nothing in the EU document that suggests Apple and MMI weren’t able to agree on a royalty rate. The deal breaker was Apple’s insistence on restrictions and exclusions from a cross-license agreement. As we know now, Apple would be willing to enter into an agreement that benefits all Android device makers (though I’m sure this would require those other Android device makers to accept certain terms and conditions, as opposed to them just getting a free ride on a deal MMI strikes with Apple). But a total portfolio cross-license, which would deprive Apple of the protection of its exclusive intellectual property, is where Cupertino draws the line… Under the circumstance of MMI demanding the relinquishment of Apple’s crown jewels, Apple closed the door.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Motorola Mobility was either nuts or didn’t actually want a deal.
[Attribution: Electronista. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jax44” for the heads up.]