Microsoft Wins ActiveSync Patent Suit Against Motorola Android Handsets
May 21, 2012 at 10:29 GMT | By Darlington Moyo
Microsoft claimed victory this weekend as the International Trade Commission (ITC) issued its final determination in Microsoft's Android infringement case against Motorola, ruling Motorola violated a Microsoft patent related to ActiveSync, a mobile data synchronization technology and protocol developed by Microsoft, originally released in 1996. The technology is licensed to a number of mobile device companies, including Apple for iOS.
The ruling affects eight individual Motrola Mobility handsets which run Google's Android operating system, including the Droid 2 and Droid X smartphones, as well as the Backflip, Charm, Clip, Devour, i1 and Cliq XT.
"Microsoft started its ITC investigation asserting 9 patents against Motorola Mobility. Although we are disappointed by the Commission's ruling that certain Motorola Mobility products violated one patent, we look forward to reading the full opinion to understand its reasoning." Motorola spokeswoman Jennifer Erickso told eWeek.
According to the ITC filing, the Commission instituted the investigation on November 5,2010, based on a complaint filed by Microsoft titled In the Matter of Certain Mobile Devices, Associated Software and Components Thereof, 337-744. The final ruling was delivered to President Obama as well as the U.S. Trade Representative, where Obama has the decision to either support or override the decision, based on public policy grounds.
"Microsoft sued Motorola in the ITC only after Motorola chose to refuse Microsoft's efforts to renew a patent license for well over a year. We're pleased the full Commission agreed that Motorola has infringed Microsoft's intellectual property, and we hope that now Motorola will be willing to join the vast majority of Android device makers selling phones in the US by taking a license to our patents," David Howard, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft, said in an emailed statement.
Motorola Mobility could appeal the ruling or cut a licensing deal with Microsoft in order to avoid altering the software on its devices. The company is currently being acquired by Google for $12.5 billion, a move that would give Google a hardware arm, as well as inheriting a broad array of wireless technology patents that could provide useful cover against its rivals' legal assault on Android. "These cases usually end up with the parties settling," Charlie Wolf, an analyst with Needham & Co in New York, told the news service. "I would expect Motorola to get together with Microsoft to resolve this."
SOURCE: eWeek
Want to keep up to date with the latest Windows Phone news, rumours, apps, games, etc? Just like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our feed and we will do the rest.
You might like:
blog comments powered by Disqus
Darlington is a self-confessed smartphone junkie. Some are convinced he has a Microsoft tatoo hidden somewhere on his body. When he is not writing about Windows Phone, he is reading about it. Current device » Nokia Lumia 920. Xbox Gamertag » MthOmnia - Add me