Microsoft's case against Motorola won't hurt Google, Android or Linux
Summary: Microsoft has filed a major patent infringement lawsuit against Motorola -- and indirectly, Google, Linux and open source.The software giant's case against Motorola's Android devices won't slow the momentum of Google smartphones or its Linux-based open source operating system.
Microsoft has filed a major patent infringement lawsuit against Motorola -- and indirectly, Google, Linux and open source.
The software giant's case against Motorola's Android devices won't slow the momentum of Google smartphones or its Linux-based open source operating system.
Consumers don't pay attention to patent infringement cases. Unless the court opts to halt sales of Motorola's Android smartphones, which is also unlikely, the market for Android devices will keep skyrocketing.
But will it impact the emerging Android-based tablet market?
Dell and other PC makers are gearing up for explosive growth in the Android-based tablet market, based in part on the success of Apple's iPad and the success of Android-based smartphones vis a vis Apple's iPhone.
Whether or not the case deters Android-based tablet innovation and manufacturing is unclear. But again, I don't think it's likely -- especially with the holiday season approaching.
Microsoft's Windows-based smartphone operating system and Tablet PC operating system -- which debuted long before market conditions were perhaps ready for them -- failed to garner much success on their own accord. Observers note that some of the patents in question are common e-mail and calendaring functions.
More than likely, Microsoft is angling for a licensing payment from Motorola.
Microsoft reached an agreement with HTC in April related to the manufacturer's alleged use of patent technology in Android-based smartphone devices.
Apple and Oracle have filed similar cases against Android manufacturers and Google, respectively.
Ironically, the lawsuits are cropping up even as Microsoft and Apple ( as well as Google and the Apache Foundation) are engaged in a patent invalidation cause.
It seems clear that Google's competitors are engaged in a massive legal pig pile as the Android pot of gold expands. Microsoft invested mightily to make the smartphone and tablet market grow and is trying to wrest whatever it can from that decade-long R&D effort to cushion its bottom line.
But that won't hurt Google, Android or Linux. Quite the contrary.
What it may do, rather indirectly, is apply more pressure on Google to get its Android code cleaned up and ready for inclusion in the Linux kernel. And eliminating a temporary or permanent fork of Linux is only good news for open source.
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Talkback
Nice work Paula. Well thought out and concise.
MS will be happy with licensing fees, just like with HTC
So Microsoft intends on expanding the windows tax to Linux, is that it?
I advise MS to concentrate on exploring the windoze tax on new pc hardware sales while they can because even that business will not last long.
I would advise that you research more
The facts are there for you to read, yet your posts would indicate that you do not do so.
:|
@Mister: blah blah blah. You write and write but you say nothing.
There's one thing you forget.
Microsoft is demanding licensing fees from Windows Phone manufacturers and with this lawsuit, they try to tell manufacturers that their OS isn't more expensive than Android.
Will that hurt Android? Hardly. Will it convince manufacturers to use Windows Phone instead of Android? Microsoft thinks so, but I don't believe it.
RE: Microsoft's case against Motorola (and Google) won't hurt Android phones, pads or Linux
Actually, there might be exceptions, but most manufacturers would feel even deeper "love" for MS. Yes, piss off your customers, that would work MS.
RE: Microsoft's case against Motorola (and Google) won't hurt Android phones, pads or Linux
Sometimes what you perceive as easy turns out not to be that easy
However that plays out we'll never know, they will settle the case privately, as Microsoft typically does in these disputes.
RE: Microsoft's case against Motorola (and Google) won't hurt Android phones, pads or Linux
Are you kidding? Wait until Motorola give an excuse for using ActiveSync without paying a license.
Microsoft and Motorola are almost identical in practice
I am sorry Ms, Rooney, but your hypothesis is based on
The part I have trouble understanding is that while you believe that Linux should be allowed to include Ip from other people if they choose to do so, why would you rally against others using IP from Linux in their products?
HTC obviouslly understood that it was indeed using IP from Microsoft in their product offerings, and felt the correct thing to do would be to handle it the right way.
Yet you know not what Motorola has used without the owner's consent, yet you defend them non the less.
Illogical would be the correct term to use here.
Why do you write so much when you have nothing of substance to say?
You write long pieces to say basically this: <i>"blah blah blah blah... "blah blah... "blah blah blah blah..."</i>
That's not of much value to anyone, not even you. Don't you agree?
RE: Microsoft's case against Motorola (and Google) won't hurt Android phones, pads or Linux
No, Mister Spock correct. You commend on the other hand: blah blah blah.
Ummmmm, no.
RE: Microsoft's case against Motorola (and Google) won't hurt Android phones, pads or Linux
Unfortunately...
RE: Microsoft's case against Motorola (and Google) won't hurt Android phones, pads or Linux
RE: Microsoft's case against Motorola (and Google) won't hurt Android phones, pads or Linux
There is no IP infrengement just M$ extortion fees.
M$ must go down!
Quick fix