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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

#131

Post by linuxhansl »

Somebody please show me a single patent on software or a so called business-process that is worth anything (i.e. not obvious to somebody skilled in the art).

Just one... I'll shut up then.

Patents were supposed to encourage innovation, now they are doing the opposite (at least for software and business processes) and causing billions of wasted dollars and fat bonuses for patent lawyers.

This move seems a bit desperate to me. To avoid fair competition on products, MSFT and Apple are using patents that they did not even invent. Pathetic and despicable.

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

#132

Post by smegel »

> 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."

Sigh. Where are my anti-depressants.

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

#133

Post by 6thSigma »

axman6 wrote: post #114
6thSigma wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

... if they're not infringing, then they have nothing to worry about. Are you kidding me?

No I'm not kidding you - patent trolls sue looking for a settlement because fighting the suit usually costs much more than settling would.

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

#134

Post by Apocryphon »

haberman wrote: post #111
pinaceae wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google threw the gauntlet when it took a billion dollar investment into a mobile OS and gave it away for free. these dumping tactics ruined the market for licensed OS like Windows. did anybody truly believe the rest of the software industry would take it up the ass from google without fighting back? bing, apple maps, patents, etc - all part of the war. how much money does MS already make off android due to lost paten…

Apple threw down the gauntlet when they made it clear that their devices would be a walled garden where they would have absolute control over what apps you can run. Prior to Android, your choice was between your carrier overlords and the Apple overlord. Not only was that limiting for users, it was a vulnerability for Google business-wise to have their direct competitors as gatekeepers between their services and their…

But with Android, the choice is between your OEM overlords and the Google anti-fragmentation efforts overlord. Yes; you can flash your own ROM and switch to CyanogenMod or Replicant. That is the freedom you are guaranteed in Android. But how many people actually take advantage of it?

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

#135

Post by waqf »

chroem wrote: post #97
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…

It's not just software patents, it's all patents. The current 3D printing technologies making a big splash right now were all invented in the 80's. The patent minefield just beginning to expire is what's causing the 3D printing boom.

citation?

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

#136

Post by neya »

pinaceae wrote: post #129
cromwellian wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How dare they! And how dare Linus Torvalds "dump" Linux on the industry, or Mozilla "dump" Firefox. They should be required by law to charge high fees!

comparing Linux to Android is ridiculous. Linus released and built it from genuine, ulterior motives. google wanted a platform to display ads.

> a platform to display ads.

Wow, you used just a single line to describe an entire, complex, (possibly superior) open source operating system?

I'm done reading comments here.

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

#137

Post by smsm42 »

axman6 wrote: post #114
6thSigma wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

... if they're not infringing, then they have nothing to worry about. Are you kidding me?

That reminds me "if you're a honest person, you need no privacy". It's not like there are tons of bullshit patents on everything on Earth from hyperlinks to rounded angles. Of course if you're a honest man you have never to fear from bullshit patents and the words "patent troll" mean just a character in Discworld novels who is a troll and makes living my analyzing patent applications.

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

#138

Post by randomhunt »

DigitalSea wrote: post #44

Wow, what a dog move. The fact they're using Google's attempt to bid for the patents originally against them is even worse. If this isn't justification for serious patent reform, I don't know what is. The fact the consortium that owns the patents is comprised of Google's main competitors in many spaces should immediately ring alarm bells for any judge. This move surely must be anti-competitive, I hope Google fights t…

> The fact they're using Google's attempt to bid for the patents originally against them is even worse

That's just lawyering 101...it's a very common thing to do to try and add "weight" to your arguments is to say the opposition was aware of the "value"

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

#139

Post by Apocryphon »

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).

Has Apple lost market share in terms of users who purchase apps or make in-app purchases?

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

#140

Post by lambdasquirrel »

cromwellian wrote: post #113
pinaceae wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google threw the gauntlet when it took a billion dollar investment into a mobile OS and gave it away for free. these dumping tactics ruined the market for licensed OS like Windows. did anybody truly believe the rest of the software industry would take it up the ass from google without fighting back? bing, apple maps, patents, etc - all part of the war. how much money does MS already make off android due to lost paten…

How dare they! And how dare Linus Torvalds "dump" Linux on the industry, or Mozilla "dump" Firefox. They should be required by law to charge high fees!

I wouldn't rush to that analogy. Microsoft dumped IE and we mostly agree that that was kind of dirty. From another angle, Google is trying to leverage one monopoly in order to break into another, and they did it by poorly copying the iPhone.

There aren't really any "good guys" in this picture, but I at least give Microsoft a nod for trying (and failing) to do something different.

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