More legal shenanigans today, with the news that Motorola is on the receiving end of some bad news with regards to an existing spat with Microsoft over the use of technology inside Android tablets and smartphones.
It seems some days are just destined to be filled with legal goings on, and today is shaping up to be just one of those days. With Apple and Samsung already baring their teeth at one-another, it is the turn of both Microsoft and Motorola this time around, with the former taking the legal battle to the latter in the United States.
The United States International Trade Commission yesterday ordered an import ban on Motorola Mobility’s Android devices, with the Droid, Atrix and Xoom amongst the devices that will fall foul of the ruling.
This particular decision stems from a ruling back in December which found that Motorola’s Android devices infringe upon one of Microsoft’s patents which relate to Exchange ActiveSync technology. Not the sexiest of technologies, but an important one regardless.
As is the case with all ITC rulings of this ilk, the decision is subject to a 60-day Presidential Review period in which Motorola will be required to pay $0.33 for each device that that is “entered for consumption.”
Motorola, for its part, is keen to remind everyone that this ruling is based on one patent, after Microsoft initially claimed that no less than eight were infringed upon. The firm has also said that it is considering an appeal, should it deem that course of action a reasonable one.
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 Mobility will not experience any impact in the near term, as the Commission’s ruling is subject to a $0.33/per unit bond during the 60 day Presidential review period. We will explore all options including appeal.
Motorola was recently on the other side of a legal battle with Microsoft, with the hardware maker winning a sales ban in Germany on Windows 7 PCs and Xbox 360s, although that particular ruling is still pending.
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