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Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

zdnet.com

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Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#91
post #65
post #44

The best reason for Microsoft to stop leaching off vaguely applicable patents on smartphones is that their best chance at reviving their own smartphone business is with something along the lines of the Nokia X handsets, running Android, but with an emphasis on Microsoft's apps and ecosystem. That won't fly without access to Google's proprietary apps and app store. Microsoft will need to bury this hatchet before they…

> That won't fly without access to Google's proprietary apps and app store. Microsoft will need to bury this hatchet before they could get that licensing deal. Microsoft could use AOSP or Cyanogen. But is there any known case where Google has blocked a would-be Android phone maker? And if it blocked Microsoft, how would that stand up to DoJ scrutiny?

Google cannot block anyone from using AOSP. But Google declines to enter into Google logo agreements all the time for all kinds of reasons that they often do not explain. While you can self test your device for compatibility, that's no guarantee you'll get an agreement with Google.

Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MTP/PTP works fine for what it is. Also MSFT didn't force anyone to adopt FAT32 and exFAT for SDHC and SDXC it's not even part of the SD association https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD_Association If there was a better FS out there that met all the requirements for SD cards don't you think it would've been adopted? Because the last thing I think all of those guys wanted is to pay MSFT royalty fees, however the alternati…

Because the last thing I think all of those guys wanted is to pay MSFT royalty fees, however the alternative could've been even more expensive. Those guys are SD card producers; they don't implement the FAT filesystem themselves, and therefore AFAIK don't have to pay the tax.

Samsung, Sony, Motorola Mobility....

Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#93

> So, why are people still paying up rather than fighting? Because patent litigation is incredibly expensive. It's cheaper to pay a $5 to $15 per device licensing fee than to pay a small fortune and take even a remote chance of failure in court. > Samsung alone paid Microsoft a billion bucks to license its Android patents. So like, why didn't Samsung take them to court?

Give me a billion dollars and I write you a mobile OS. Shoot me an email if you are interested.

Does the billion dollars include indemnification against all patent and copyright lawsuits?

Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#94
post #43

> So, why are people still paying up rather than fighting? Because patent litigation is incredibly expensive. It's cheaper to pay a $5 to $15 per device licensing fee than to pay a small fortune and take even a remote chance of failure in court. > Samsung alone paid Microsoft a billion bucks to license its Android patents. So like, why didn't Samsung take them to court?

Maybe Samsung gets something out of it? Cross-patent licensing deal? It's also worth noting that MicroSoft started looking for license payments while Samsung was still in court with Apple of patent issues. It's very possible they didn't want another large lawsuit.

I think Microsoft in a number of cases has made the cross licensing so lucrative that companies end up ahead by licensing the patents. They would do this, of course, to establish the precedent that they can then use to go on an leverage against smaller players. It would not surprise me at all if Samsung was in this situtation.

Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#95
post #51

> So, why are people still paying up rather than fighting? Because patent litigation is incredibly expensive. It's cheaper to pay a $5 to $15 per device licensing fee than to pay a small fortune and take even a remote chance of failure in court. > Samsung alone paid Microsoft a billion bucks to license its Android patents. So like, why didn't Samsung take them to court?

This "cost of litigation" argument is probably bogus. Even some of the epic patent battles like Apple v. Samsung or other decade long arbitrations like Yukos vs. Russia were like 50-60 Million USD in legal fees.

Try 200+

Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#98
People often misattribute this patent attack as on Android. What they don't realise is that most of patents involved are simply Linux or general computing patents. In other words, whether you love or hate Android or Google, is irrelevant. This is an exact example of a generic attack on a computing system through use of sketchy, over broad, under substantiated patents. MS happened to deploy it against Android because Android was the competitor of the day, but they can and will deploy it as suits their business interests against any technology or company out there.

Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#99
post #97

I am pretty sure the title of this submission is against the site guidelines; it's not the title of the article submitted and the article's title is perfectly explanatory.

yes, mods (e.g. dang) please check and fix the title.

Re: Microsoft won't stop forcing companies to pay for its bogus Android patents

#100
You know why MSFT enforces its patents? Because the patents are valid. The US approved and likes such patents.

Software patents in the form the US does them didn't exist in Europe, but see this (hint: the US again):

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//...

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