ITC clears Microsoft of Google's Xbox patent violation claims

The U.S. International Trade Commission decided on May 23 that the P2P wireless system in the Xbox doesn't violate Google patents.

Motorola Mobility, later purchased by Google, filed its original Xbox patent complaint in November 2010, claiming Xbox's communication system between the console and peripherals violated its patent. 

In March 2013, the ITC upheld a ruling clearing Microsoft of patent violation in the matter. Today, the ITC said it wouldn't overturn that finding.

"This is a win for Xbox customers and confirms our view that Google had no grounds to block our products," said David Howard, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in a prepared statement.

I asked Google officials if they had any reaction and have not received word back.

Update: A Google spokesperson said: "We're disappointed with this decision and are evaluating our options."

A copy of today's decision is available here.

Microsoft and Motorola have been warring over patents for the past several years. Microsoft sued Motorola on October 1, 2010, over alleged infringement of Motorola’s Android smartphones on Microsoft’s patents. On November 9 of that year, Microsoft sued Motorola again over wireless and video coding patents that are used by the Xbox and smartphones. In the latter case, Microsoft claimed that Motorola is charging excessive royalties for its patents.

Motorola retaliated with its own countersuit on November 10, 2010, claiming infringement of 16 of its patents by Microsoft’s PC and server software, Windows Mobile and Xbox products. Motorola, and later, its owner Google, was seeking to block U.S. imports of the Xbox as part of its case.

Google purchased Motorola Mobility in 2011.