October 1, 2010

Microsoft Lawyers Try To Bust Up Motorola's Android Party

Microsoft has been grumbling for months about Google Android OS infringing on its patents, but this is no ordinary fear, uncertainty and doubt campaign. With its Friday filing of a patent infringement lawsuit against Motorola, Microsoft is showing its willingness to back up these claims.

Microsoft's suit, filed with the International Trade Commission and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleges that Motorola's Android smartphones infringe on nine of Microsoft's patents, which cover functions such as synchronizing e-mail, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.

Microsoft Slaps Motorola with Patent Lawsuit over Android

Anyone who did not see this one coming after Microsoft's patent deal with HTC and Apple's meticulousness in avoiding Windows Mobile in its suit against HTC hasn't been paying attention. Microsoft has filed a patent complaint with the US International Trade Commission, as well as a patent lawsuit in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington against Motorola over its Android-based devices.

Well, paint me red and call me a girl scout - Microsoft has sued Motorola over the company's Android-based devices. According to Microsoft, Motorola infringes upon nine of its patents relating to a whole array of stuff - with Microsoft being in the business for this long, you can barely take a piss without violating one of Redmond's patents.