14 June 2011 | Author: N. Hamilton Media copywriter
Silicon Valley seems set for another smart phone spat, as Google's likely to snap-up 6,000 mobile patents from the now-bankrupt telecoms firm Nortel - and Microsoft's not happy.
According to CNet.com, Microsoft is worried that Google's Android platform will secure an unfair monopoly on mobile if it secures Nortel's patents. Such a move would see Google effectively come to own patents used in Microsoft's smart phones and the firm could block or limit how Microsoft deploys the technology globally in its Windows phones.
Microsoft is said to be so unnerved by Google's multimillion patent spend that it raised the issue in a filing with the Delaware bankruptcy court handling Nortel's dissolution.
Redmond has reportedly requested its existing worldwide, perpetual and royalty-free license agreements should transfer - unchanged - to Google or any other company that acquires the Nortel patents.
On filing, a Microsoft spokesman said: "Microsoft wants any new owners of the Nortel patents to be subject to Nortel's existing commitments to Standards Setting Organizations and to Microsoft. By making this filing, Microsoft preserves its ability to raise this issue with the bankruptcy court in the event the final buyer of the Nortel assets seeks to disclaim any of these commitments."
Hewlett-Packard, Nokia and Motorola Mobility are believed to have filed similar requests.
The US Justice Department's anti-trust division will reportedly investigate whether a winning bidder could use the Nortel patents to unfairly curb competition. The Justice Department is said to be particularly concerned about the creation of a market monopoly if Google or Apple were to secure the Nortel patents.
The Nortel patents are thought to cover a wide range or wired, wireless and digital technologies including wireless video, Wi-Fi, LTE mobile data technology, 4G wireless data networking and optical voice.
Smart phone spat: Microsoft 'concerned' by Google's multimillion patent spend
Silicon Valley seems set for another smart phone spat, as Google's likely to snap-up 6,000 mobile patents from the now-bankrupt telecoms firm Nortel - and Microsoft's not happy. According to CNet.com, Microsoft is worried that Google's Android platform will secure an unfair monopoly on mobile if it secures Nortel's patents. Such a move would see Google effectively come to own patents used in Microsoft's smart phones and the firm could block or limit how Microsoft deploys the technology globally in its Windows phones.
Microsoft is said to be so unnerved by Google's multimillion patent spend that it raised the issue in a filing with the Delaware bankruptcy court handling Nortel's dissolution.
Redmond has reportedly requested its existing worldwide, perpetual and royalty-free license agreements should transfer - unchanged - to Google or any other company that acquires the Nortel patents.
On filing, a Microsoft spokesman said: "Microsoft wants any new owners of the Nortel patents to be subject to Nortel's existing commitments to Standards Setting Organizations and to Microsoft. By making this filing, Microsoft preserves its ability to raise this issue with the bankruptcy court in the event the final buyer of the Nortel assets seeks to disclaim any of these commitments."
Hewlett-Packard, Nokia and Motorola Mobility are believed to have filed similar requests.
The US Justice Department's anti-trust division will reportedly investigate whether a winning bidder could use the Nortel patents to unfairly curb competition. The Justice Department is said to be particularly concerned about the creation of a market monopoly if Google or Apple were to secure the Nortel patents.
The Nortel patents are thought to cover a wide range or wired, wireless and digital technologies including wireless video, Wi-Fi, LTE mobile data technology, 4G wireless data networking and optical voice.
English
German/Deutsch
Norwegian/Norsk
Swedish/Svenska
Italian/Italiano
French/Français
Spanish/Español
Latest News
RSS News Feeds
Related Articles
