Initiate Patent Warfare: Microsoft VS Motorola
Back in late 2010, Motorola made news by launching a legal battle. The opponent? None other than tech giant Microsoft. Well, eighteen months, a move to Germany, and numerous legal intricacies later, the judge’s decision was issued today with actual consequences for the defendant. A potential sales ban in Germany has been issued on key Microsoft products including the Xbox 360 game console, Windows 7 software, Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer. The reason? Microsoft, according to the court, infringed upon two of Motorola’s patents involving video compression and playback. Well, now your all saying, “A ‘potential sales ban?’ So no action? How is this any different than the ruling that came out back in April?” In April, a judge ruled that Microsoft had, indeed, infringed upon four Motorola patents, but German courts decided to review the case. Now, however, the ruling upon two of those patents is solid. Microsoft estimated the annual amount they would’ve owed Motorola for the technology at $4 billion. Talk about shaving off some costs…