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Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

arstechnica.com

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Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#101

Post by pedalpete »

threeseed wrote: post #95
pg wrote: post #61

It's a little early to say for sure, but I predict this will do more to hurt Apple's reputation in the tech community than anything they've done before. And that is not a good community to alienate. I would not be surprised if they look back on this move one day and feel that they ended up net worse off as a result. Apple used to be careful not to alienate hackers. And Microsoft has been gradually digging itself out…

Google's continued abuse of the FRAND process has done nothing to hurt their image in the eyes of most. And likewise this suit won't affect Apple or Microsoft's reputation one iota.

Can you expand on this? I'm not sure what you mean about Google's abuse of FRAND.

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#102

Post by threeseed »

ekianjo wrote: post #69
bstar77 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment is ridiculous. The big players have been playing a patent chess game since 2007. Don't forget Google bid for these patents as well and it's completely ignorant to think they would have not exercised their billion $+ purchase. Google took the initiative a year ago with their Motorola patent portfolio, Samsung took the initiative with their FRAND patents, Apple took the initiative with their design portfol…

If I remember correctly, Google has always said they would only use these patents in a defensive manner if they ever get them. http://www.androidcentral.com/google-pledges-only-use-open-s... That's very different from Apple or Microsoft.

Please. Stop acting like Google is some innocent child. It's pathetic.

Google has been using SEPs as weapons and undermining standards and the huge benefits they bring to humanity.

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#103

Post by ekianjo »

bstar77 wrote: post #83
ekianjo wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I remember correctly, Google has always said they would only use these patents in a defensive manner if they ever get them. http://www.androidcentral.com/google-pledges-only-use-open-s... That's very different from Apple or Microsoft.

I disagree, microsoft tried to destroy linux by coercing companies to pay a bogus linux tax. Microsoft also footed the bill for SCO's case against Linux. MS' record is atrocious here. Motorola Mobility sued apple in 2010. Just last month Motorola filed a motion to reopen their case against Apple. Again, all of these companies are deeply involved in this game of patents.

> Motorola Mobility sued apple in 2010.

As far as I know Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2011. So they had nothing to do with the original suit. As for last month's one, I don't know about the details.

> I disagree, microsoft tried to destroy linux

Where did I say Microsoft was clean ?

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#104

Post by pedalpete »

__david__ wrote: post #94
pg wrote: post #61

It's a little early to say for sure, but I predict this will do more to hurt Apple's reputation in the tech community than anything they've done before. And that is not a good community to alienate. I would not be surprised if they look back on this move one day and feel that they ended up net worse off as a result. Apple used to be careful not to alienate hackers. And Microsoft has been gradually digging itself out…

That may be true, but it would be misplaced. I think we should channel our outrage into changing the screwy US patent system so this kind of stuff would become moot.

Why can't we do both? Let the companies know we don't accept their behaviour, and try to change the patent system. The patent system won't change overnight, but the companies can drop the suit in an instance.

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#105

Post by bsdetector »

mythz wrote: post #37

What really sucks is how established multi-billion dollar companies are able to oppress smaller innovative ones from competing by simply using their cash war-chest to buy-up broad patent mine-fields around them. It especially sucks this is being done to stifle the momentum of one of the highest-growth markets the world has ever seen. Patents were meant to protect the innovator, instead software patents are being used…

Small companies that have done something new aren't buried six feet under a lawsuit, they are bought out and become Google YouTube, or Google Maps, or Google Blogger.

Yes they may be forced to sell or sell for less to avoid patent lawsuits against them, but they sell for more than if they didn't have any patents themselves.

It isn't an idea situation, but patents still generate a ton of income for small inventors.

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#106

Post by richtr »

bpodgursky wrote: post #18

I know it's been said before, but to reiterate: outrage doesn't help anything, but buying products from these companies DOES hurt. If you're truly outraged enough to want to take action, take action - writing to your representatives - donating to the EFF or other organizations - by not donating another $2k to Apple for a new Mac*, implicitly endorsing these bullshit tactics - not developing for those platforms (App S…

This inspired me to create a 'buycott' that people can join to show their dissatisfaction with these patent trolling tactics:

http://buycott.com/campaign/699/boycott-rockstar-s-weaponiza...

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#107

Post by threeseed »

throwaway98604 wrote: post #74
bstar77 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment is ridiculous. The big players have been playing a patent chess game since 2007. Don't forget Google bid for these patents as well and it's completely ignorant to think they would have not exercised their billion $+ purchase. Google took the initiative a year ago with their Motorola patent portfolio, Samsung took the initiative with their FRAND patents, Apple took the initiative with their design portfol…

It's only partially about taking the morally high ground; I'm afraid Apple is going to start losing significant market share. i.e. I always hear of friends and colleagues who switch from the iPhone to Android (and not vice-versa). And from what I've seen Google is also actually making significant improvements Android's API instead of Apple's method of just making aesthetic changes (and some argue making it worse).

Apple made significant API changes as well.

https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/releasenotes/General...

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#108

Post by 6thSigma »

axman6 wrote: post #91
cromwellian wrote: post #4

I thought it was impossible to be more of a douchebag than Intellectual Ventures, but apparently, there's a new winner in town. It was obvious when the Rockstar bid won and you looked at who made up the group, what was going to happen. I used to get really angry and outraged when reading stories like this, but now I'm just resigned. Patent reform isn't going to happen and this kind of predatory and unethical abuse of…

Hang on a sec, if the patents are found valid, and Google etc. are found infringing, then they have s/broken the law/failed make appropriate agreements so that they are then allowed by the owner of the monopoly defined by the claims to use the defined invention, and are now liable to a civil suite from the owner of said patents in order to exercise their exclusive right granted by the ownership of a letters patent/.…

Google didn't bid on these patents because they were infringing - they bid on the patents so they wouldn't get patent trolled.

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#109

Post by axman6 »

rurounijones wrote: post #9

'One patent filed in 1997, for a "navigation tool for graphical user interface," describes a way of navigating through electronic documents. Another describes an "Internet protocol filter," and a third patent describes an "integrated message center."' Well with earth-shaking innovative patents like that I hope they succeed. I would never have thought of an integrated message center for anything.

reads half line description which outlines not a single important feature of the patent Yep, obviously these are shippy patents, I better not read them!

What a joke, this is why I always get angry when reading anything about patents on HN, everyone is so uneducated and seemingly proud of it.

Re: Patent war goes nuclear: Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google

#110

Post by curiousDog »

pg wrote: post #61

It's a little early to say for sure, but I predict this will do more to hurt Apple's reputation in the tech community than anything they've done before. And that is not a good community to alienate. I would not be surprised if they look back on this move one day and feel that they ended up net worse off as a result. Apple used to be careful not to alienate hackers. And Microsoft has been gradually digging itself out…

I'm now ashamed I ever worked at Microsoft and I'm assuming a lot of devs there will feel the same way :(
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