Microsoft joins Apple against Motorola Mobility in FRAND patent fight

Apple and Motorola have been butting heads, and at one point Motorola nearly succeeded in getting a permanent injunction against Apple’s iPads over in Germany. If that near-win wasn’t bad enough, it looks like Microsoft has entered the fray and has filed a complaint against Motorola Mobility alongside Apple with the EU, alleging that Motorola Mobility were abusing their standard-essential patents and were going against FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) licensing. 

“Motorola has broken its promise,” said Dave Heiner, vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft’s Corporate Standards & Antitrust Group. “Motorola is on a path to use standard essential patents to kill video on the Web, and Google as its new owner doesn’t seem to be willing to change course.”

For those who aren’t familiar with the situation, Motorola Mobility had sued Apple over patent infringements, some of which included the 3G UMTS technology which Apple feels is an industry standard, which should then be licensed under FRAND. Motorola however was asking for 2.25% of Apple’s sales which Apple had felt was unfair.

In the case with Microsoft and according to the Redmond company, Motorola Mobility is seeking to block the sales of Windows PCs, the Xbox gaming consoles and other products by allegedly abusing patents that were deemed industry standards. At this point in time we’re not sure how Motorola Mobility will respond, but it seems that approval for the merger came at a pretty good time as they now have the weight of Google to back them up.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple, Cellphones, Computers, Gaming
Tags: Legal, Microsoft, motorola mobility