Motorola Wins Patent Victories; Other Microsoft Patent Wars

Motorola announced on Tuesday that the ITC Administrative Law Judge favored Motorola on six of seven patent infringement claims made by Microsoft, while favoring Microsoft for four counts of the seventh claim. The infringed patent, number 6370566, allows users to issue and schedule meeting requests on mobile devices. The original suit included nine patents, according to Microsoft, but the company dropped two claims since the filing.

Microsoft seeks to ban sales in and importation of any devices using the patented technology to the U.S., which would include the Motorola Droid and Cliq product lines, according to the original complaint. The ITC is expected to issue a final ruling in April 2012, and Motorola will pursue Microsoft for infringing its own patents, according to the Motorola announcement. This initial ITC ruling, in addition to other recent suits involving Microsoft patents, proves the patent wars are far from over, as all suits are ongoing.

Via Vadis vs. Skype & Microsoft

Via Vadis filed one suit in Luxembourg, in January 2011, and second suit in the U.S. on May 10, 2011, both against Skype and claiming patent infringement, according to the original U.S. complaint. Filed the day Microsoft announced its intentions to acquire Skype, the suit became Microsoft's problem. The suit requests monetary relief and an injunction against Skype, claiming its VoIP technology infringes 2 patents, including 7904680 and RE40521, which are related to systems that improve data access and management in computers, supernodes and data redundancy, according to the patent texts.

Priceline vs. Microsoft & 98 Others

An April 2011 Walker Digital press release states that WD filed 15 patent infringement suits against 98 companies beginning on April 11, 2011. Because Microsoft and the other companies refused to negotiate proper licensing for the patents, using them regardless, according to Jon Ellenthal, Walker Digital CEO and founder of Priceline, Microsoft is named in 7 of the 15 suits, according to the Walker Digital Defense Portal. Walker Digital also claims Microsoft is infringing on 10 different patents covering hyperlink, mapping technology, online auctions, billing and encryption, and online tournaments, according to Walker Defense Portal.

Microsoft vs. Barnes & Noble, Foxconn, & Inventec (Barnes & Noble et al.)

A Microsoft press release from March 11 2011, states Microsoft filed a complaint against Barnes & Noble, Foxconn and Inventec (Barnes & Noble et al.) for installing Android on the Nook and Nook Color e-readers. Microsoft alleges in the release that Barnes & Noble et al. refused to license the Android technology from Microsoft as HTC did, thus the companies are infringing numerous patents.

The companies allegedly infringe five patents governing how users experience Web surfing, screen tabbing, and interacting with e-books, the original complaint claims. An answer filed in April by Barnes & Noble et al. denies any infringement, calling the patents, "trivial features."

Jessica (JC) Torpey is a self-taught computer technician with more than 10 years experience in the field. JC's passion is studying the various political and business aspects of the technology industry. Combining that knowledge with her love of computers, JC uses it to influence her writing.

Resource : Yahoo News