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Topic: Android

Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

Summary: As Google grows, so does its list of competitors and enemies.

Rachel King

By for Between the Lines |

Google's Android operating system has risen to become one of the top mobile platforms in the world and the current leader in the United States.

Naturally, this is sure to infuriate Google's competitors. Because of Android's success, David Drummond, senior vice president and chief legal officer at Google, wrote on Google's official blog that this has led to a "hostile, organized campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents."

Google's Android platform faces legal threats on a number of fronts at the moment, ranging from disputes with Oracle about patent infringement over Java to several manufacturers (namely Samsung and HTC) that have developed mobile devices (i.e. smartphones and tablets) based on Android to be engaged in multiple lawsuits with Apple.

But Drummond points specifically towards another recent bidding war, among other debacles:

They’re doing this by banding together to acquire Novell’s old patents (the “CPTN” group including Microsoft and Apple) and Nortel’s old patents (the “Rockstar” group including Microsoft and Apple), to make sure Google didn’t get them; seeking $15 licensing fees for every Android device; attempting to make it more expensive for phone manufacturers to license Android (which we provide free of charge) than Windows Mobile; and even suing Barnes & Noble, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung. Patents were meant to encourage innovation, but lately they are being used as a weapon to stop it.

There is no denying that things are becoming much more heated among the top dogs in tech, especially in relation to Android.

However, at a certain point, when everyone has a problem with someone, isn't that someone to blame to some extent? So is Google in the right here, or does it look like the Goog is buckling under pressure?

Related:

Topics: Android, Google

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25 comments
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  • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

    oh Android...
    first they ignore you... (haha, G1)
    then they ridicule you... (who is going to by a big phone lol)
    then they fight you... (you are violating 120 of our patents)
    then you win.
    tatiGmail
    Reply Vote

    • If Android would keep to be Blackberry copycat, rather than turning into

      @tatiGmail: ... iPhoneOS copycat after 2007, then no one would be against Android.

      Sitting for years at Apple's board of directors, Google was playing the role of Microsoft when Jobs invited them to collaborate with creation of office suit for original Macintosh back in 1982. Microsoft turned out to be silently preparing their version of MacOS, and released Windows.

      However, back then Apple was poorly prepared, and in 1983 signed license deal with Microsoft that allowed them to use GUI elements in their products, except of OS.

      When Microsoft released their Windows 1.0 in 1985, Apple sued, but Microsoft told that they did not release OS, they released "only" "shell". It was true in that time, but when Microsoft went to release more like actual OS with Windows 3.0 version in 1990, Apple already lost the court trials and the history was made.

      <b>This time Jobs and Apple filed more than 200 patent applications (2005-2007) to protect iPhone in every way, so any sane court will ban phones using copycat gesture-based multi-touch UI elements.</b> Google Android may go back to be BlackBerryOS copycat.

      However, this scenario would only work in "sane" court system. What reality will bring, we will see.
      DDERSSS
      Reply Vote

      • Curious to get your thoughts

        @DeRSSS
        Are WP7 and WebOS both iPhone copycats as well? After all, they are both multi-touch on a capacitative screen OSs with apps, browsers, email, etc.

        Do you believe that Apple should use their 200 patents to also sue HP and MS so that iPhone is the only multi-touch capacitative screen phone allowed to be sold?

        Just curious what your thoughts are on this topic since you are obviously very enthusiastic about Apple's success in this area.
        toddybottom
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

        @DeRSSS

        When the current "touch" fad fades away and we're using gestures in the air rather than making our screens unreadable from dirt and fingerprint oil, I wonder if you'll be supporting MS patents that could prevent anyone from waving at a computer device ;-)

        Oh and I used the original Xeroc Parc set-up that Apple copied, no wonder they couldn't get away with pretending they'd actually invented something.

        Next time, see if you can tell the difference from an advertising company and marketing and packaging company and a software development company.
        tonymcs@...
        Reply Vote

      • Apple did not copy Xerox what Apple got

        tonymcs@... from Xerox was paid for and completed by Apple since what Xerox sold Apple was not a complete OS.

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • The concept of Multi Touch is not owned by Apple

        @toddybottom what Apple owns is the specific way in which Apple implemented Multitouch in it's devices. Anyone is free to come up with an alternative method or pay Apple either or.

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • James

        I didn't ask what you thought. I'm interested in what the adults think. Go away.
        toddybottom
        Reply Vote

    • &quot;Mommy they hit me!!&quot;

      I doubt baby-crying in front of public is a sign of winning.
      LBiege
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

      @tatiGmail <br>Sorry, it is not like that. Google denied Microsoft's request of jointly going for Nortel's patents, and went individually. Please get the facts right before saying something. http://www.ip4help.com/2011/08/google-said-no-to-joining-microsoft.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=iphone
      Ram U
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

      @tatiGmail Ahh but you forget 2 very important and relevant facts - first one is that Google was invited into the consortium of companies that won the patent bid but Google declined. Second Google lost the bid.
      athynz
      Reply Vote

  • When an inferior company (Google) cannot compete

    the first thing they do is cry and complain...
    iPad-awan
    Reply Vote

  • Stick a fork in Android

    If you put Google's blog post into Google Translate, this is what it says...

    "Wah! I lost, so I'm taking my ball and leaving! You guys will be sorry, because I'm never going to come play here again!. Humph!"

    Android is being attacked on all sides for patent infringement. This is the best Google can do? Whine about it, and try to act like a naive victim? Wow. Android's in a worse position than I thought.
    Vatdoro
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

    So is this when Google allows others to use its PageRank patent on FRAND terms to build other search engines, or are patents only anti-innovation when Google's the one wanting access? I'd like to see Google address patents broadly enough to include the ones they hold...
    mary.branscombe
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

    With Android having almost 50% of the Asian markets is this sort of 'action' surprising? Android is an unstoppable juggernaut, Nokia and RIM are just it's first two casualties.
    Lord Minty
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

      @Lord Minty

      Sorry Buddy, but considering that both of those companies are continuing to grow their user base quarter after quarter, year after year indicates otherwise. Contrary to what "the media" & fanboys are saying, there is room for more than 1 smartphone platform (i'll go out on a limb and say theres room for more than two also).
      Iphones are clearly the best piece of hardware. But your panties are still all wet over android devices.
      I personally prefer my blackberry. I dont want to carry an ugly linux mini computer in my pocket. I dont game on my phone, so i dont want an iphone. I love the design of curve/torch lines and it does everything I want it do and does it all well.
      There is room for more than two platforms.
      KenoshaSysAdmin
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

    Regarding those patents bought from Nortel by MSFT, Apple, & RIM, does anyone know if those companies will share licencing revenue or will they each sue Goog separately?
    GreasyTacoAficionado
    Reply Vote

    • A patent can only be defended by the legal owner

      @GreasyTacoAficionado So the group can only sue as the conglomerate ..... they can't sue as individuals.

      They also have to share the revenue based on the % of ownership of the conglomerate.
      wackoae
      Reply Vote

  • Reminds me of Hillary Clintons &quot;vast right wing conspiracy&quot;

    Was he wearing one of her power pantsuits when he posted this or a full on dress? What a bunch of misleading cry baby nonsense. pathetic...
    Johnny Vegas
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

    Innovate or perish... google is utter pathatic. The blogpost speaks volumes of its incompetant attitude.

    Duh!!!!!!!
    owlnet
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Google speaks out about 'hostile, organized campaign' against Android

      @owlnet
      what does innovate translate in the world of open source ?
      AdnanPirota
      Reply Vote
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