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The Microsoft patent juggernaut keeps on rolling. As you all know, Microsoft has managed to force yet another bright star in the Android firmament to sign a patent licensing deal with it. Redmond’s patent deal with Samsung, which requires that the latter pay royalties to MS for every Android device it sells, hasn’t gone down too well with archrival Google. The search engine giant on Wednesday called the Windows developer on the carpet for its tactics.
“This is the same tactic we’ve seen time and again from Microsoft. Failing to succeed in the smartphone market, they are resorting to legal measures to extort profit from others’ achievements and hinder the pace of innovation,” Google said in a statement on Microsoft’s deal with Samsung. “We remain focused on building new technology and supporting Android partners.”
Despite the huge internal celebrations over the company’s latest patent conquest, it didn’t take too long for Microsoft to hit back. Microsoft’s head of communications, Frank X. Shaw, responded by condensing the 48-word Google statement to just one: “Waaaah.” Shaw then encouraged the Mountain View company to “read paragraph 5 of our blog on the topic.”
Paragraph 5 of the said blog post reads: “We recognize that some businesses and commentators – Google chief among them – have complained about the potential impact of patents on Android and software innovation. To them, we say this: look at today’s announcement. If industry leaders such as Samsung and HTC can enter into these agreements, doesn’t this provide a clear path forward?”
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jesse_n_sf
September 30, 2011 at 12:34pm
Guy's they also made a cross licensing deals to help the companies fight against Apple. Apple doesn't like to cross license any of their patents, they prefer to sue and be selfish. It is good to be able to share each other's ideas, thus innovation would still exists this way.
Engelsstaub
September 30, 2011 at 5:09pm
Do a websearch on "Microsoft sues" or something. I can think of Google and Barnes & Noble as recent recipients of MS's "unselfishness." Sued Google because they can't nut-ride Google's search-engine marketshare. Sued B&N over Android patents with the Nook just like the case here where they extorted a company out of court.
They are extorting others because they lack any recent innovation. If MS was seriously threatened by alternative OSes you could bet their lawyers would be stinking up the courtrooms with their BS.
Bullwinkle J Moose
September 30, 2011 at 1:52am
Clarification of Microsoft Licensing Terms:
MICROSOFT STEALS TECHNOLOGY!
The Gov't and Microsoft Attorneys protect Microsoft because Windows is a Gov't Sponsored Spyware Platform
YOU, the end user are not authorized to Legally enter into a Licensing Agreement for Windows if the OS contains code owned by a third party without that party's approval
Microsoft has been caught several times using third party code in its software without said party's approval
Microsoft has lost several cases based on the unauthorized use of third party code
The license you have entered into is NULL AND VOID!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reason Microsoft wins court cases for people pirating Windows is only because Windows is a Gov't sponsored spyware Platform
The Gov't cannot allow end users to use what they "Claim" are Illegal copies of Windows if those copies allow you to bypass or otherwise thwart the functionality of the Spyware
My past posts have repeatedly shown you how you can verify this yet most posters simply ignore the evidence and resort to name calling in support of Microsofts Illegal Monopoly
However, the real reason Microsoft is rushing to Windows 8 now has nothing to do with superior technology
Microsoft has been repeatedly caught enabling third party applications to access home computers in XP-SP3, Vista and Windows 7
The real reason Microsoft is rushing Windows 8 is the same reason most of your XP era hardware is now obsolete!
Windows 8 is a "Hardware" enabled Spyware Platform
Microsoft can now open their sourcecode for Windows 8 to Prove that their is no spyware or 3rd party code inside
The Spyware Platform has simply shifted to hardware to prevent detection
Think of the new OS as being 1/2 of the software package
The other half of the software is in Gov't hands and you will never have access to it
The Gov't half can access all your data including encrypted data by accessing the hardware directly
Older versions of Windows were a work in progress to perfect the spyware to prevent detection
We can still prove in ANY legitimate Court that XP-SP3, Vista and Windows 7 are Gov't sponsored spyware but the Gov't will not proceed with any such case by simply claiming "National Security"
and most Maximum PC users don't want to hear the evidence anyway
They would rather resort to name calling and continue hiding in their shell
But what does any of this have to do with Android ?
Simple, No Operating System will be Allowed to function correctly or gain network access unless it becomes a party to the GSN (Global Spy Network)
illusionslayer
September 30, 2011 at 4:57am
Who let this guy out of his straight-jacket?
Better yet, who's in charge of keeping people like this away from the internet?
warptek2010
September 29, 2011 at 11:09pm
Again, can someone point to what exact patents are being infringed upon in Android? Can MaximumPC clarify this issue because I'm lost here.
dethdeks
September 29, 2011 at 10:30pm
can someone please explain to me how microsoft can make soneone sign a licenseing agreement for android. didnt google create android? and isnt android on the same licenseing terms as linux/unix is? so how is microsoft making people sign licenseing agreements for something that A) they dont own and B) for something thats as far as i know unless im mistaken freeware?
big_montana
September 30, 2011 at 5:31am
Because according to Microsoft, Linux infringes on their patents and intellectual property, and several Linux developers have also signed licensing agreements with Microsoft as well.
Engelsstaub
September 29, 2011 at 10:22pm
The concept of an OS infringes on Microsofts patents.
If the word Apple was in the title there'd be some righteous indignation going on in the comment section.
b_c_pc
September 29, 2011 at 9:54pm
I suppose Google can now at least claim the high moral ground (i.e. "we tried to play nice, Microsoft, but you threw it back in our collective faces...") before responding in kind (finding something to sue them for).
aarcane
September 29, 2011 at 4:53pm
No matter the size of the giant there will always be one larger. One large company caving to threats from another larger company doesn't show anything remotely resembling a clear path. If anything it shows what exactly is wrong with the patent system in use today (and worse: in the future of patents).
