In a public statement, Microsoft has announced that they have filed a patent lawsuit against Motorola with the International Trade Commission, based on the essential functionality that Motorola employs in their Android-based smartphones. Microsoft is saying that Motorola has violated several patents, all of which have something to do with specific uses of the User Experience. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington earlier today.
Microsoft says that their action today “merely seeks to ensure respect for our intellectual property rights infringed by Android devices.” They go on to add that, recent patent lawsuits filed by Apple and Oracle suggest that the Redmond-based company is not alone in their desires. The lawsuit focuses on Motorola’s implementation of synchronizing email, contacts, and calendars, as well as scheduling meetings. It also entails notifying applications regarding battery level and changes in signal strength. You can read the full press release below.
Press Release
Microsoft Files Patent Infringement Action Against Motorola
REDMOND, Wash. – Oct. 1, 2010 – Microsoft Corp. today filed a patent infringement action against Motorola, Inc. and issued the following statement from Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing:
“Microsoft filed an action today in the International Trade Commission and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against Motorola, Inc. for infringement of nine Microsoft patents by Motorola’s Android-based smartphones. The patents at issue relate to a range of functionality embodied in Motorola’s Android smartphone devices that are essential to the smartphone user experience, including synchronizing email, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.
We have a responsibility to our customers, partners, and shareholders to safeguard the billions of dollars we invest each year in bringing innovative software products and services to market. Motorola needs to stop its infringement of our patented inventions in its Android smartphones.”
