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Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

blogs.technet.com

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Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#51

Post by megablast »

city41 wrote: post #10
praptak wrote: post #4

So much for the "Microsoft doesn't have a history of patent lawsuit trolling. [...] At the end of the day MS is a developer centric company, they pride themselves on the ability to make things, and patents are an annoying side show to that." argument found here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1745932

Patents are a big deal at Microsoft. They are highly encouraged. Employees who succeed in securing a patent receive a plaque that is proudly displayed in their office as well as a nice bonus.

Wow, a plaque, that is a big deal.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, but I certainly am.

Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#52

Post by borism »

city41 wrote: post #50
borism wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that has nothing to do with patent trolling though

You've got to have patents before you can patent troll.

Yeah, though what OP seems to be saying is that they're encouraging mid level workers to apply for patents. That seems pretty common and rather benign to me, certainly not indicative of patent trolling.

Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#53

Post by stumm »

bobbyi wrote: post #46
city41 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Patents are a big deal at Microsoft. They are highly encouraged. Employees who succeed in securing a patent receive a plaque that is proudly displayed in their office as well as a nice bonus.

It's actually a cube rather than a plaque. Some people have pyramids on their desk built from patent cubes.

The cube is for filing a patent. You get the plaque when it is awarded.

Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#56

Post by houseabsolute »

konad wrote: post #48
houseabsolute wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might benefit from rereading this article. http://www.danshapiro.com/blog/2010/09/how-to-read-a-patent-...

my rage is not abated

I guess you are a Motorola shareholder or something? If not, is this likely to harm you in any way?

Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#57

Post by glhaynes »

peterbessman wrote: post #37
GHFigs wrote: post #17

It is absolutely imperative that we all formulate our opinions in ignorance of the patents themselves. Pay no attention to the following words and numbers. Common Name Space for Long and Short File Names: 5,579,517 Common Name Space for Long and Short File Names: 5,758,352 Monitoring Entropic Conditions of a Flash Memory Device as an Indicator for Invoking Erasure Operations: 6,621,746 Radio Interface Layer in a Cell…

Maybe this is a dumb question, but why are they targetting motorola? Don't these patents apply to, well, every smartphone in existence? It can't be a matter of stupidity, so I wonder what made them decide to go after Motorola, and not Nokia, Apple, HTC, Palm, and everyone else who makes a phone with a "Contact Database."

HTC and Apple at least both have some licensing agreements with Microsoft that may cover these patents.

Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#58

Post by orangecat »

houseabsolute wrote: post #56
konad wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

my rage is not abated

I guess you are a Motorola shareholder or something? If not, is this likely to harm you in any way?

If not, is this likely to harm you in any way?

If it contributes to Android going away and leaving us to "choose" between Apple and Microsoft controlling our computing experience, then yes.

Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#59

Post by tzs »

praptak wrote: post #4

So much for the "Microsoft doesn't have a history of patent lawsuit trolling. [...] At the end of the day MS is a developer centric company, they pride themselves on the ability to make things, and patents are an annoying side show to that." argument found here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1745932

Microsoft doesn't have a history of patent trolling. Nor are they patent trolling now. Patent trolling is when an entity that neither invented nor practices the patent in suit obtained the rights to the patent and is enforcing it. When the plaintiff is the inventor and/or is practicing the patent, then by definition it is not patent trolling.

Re: Microsoft sues Motorola over Android patent infringements

#60

Post by tzs »

spot wrote: post #2

Didn't MS pledge not to use their patents offensively? EDIT: http://www.microsoft.com/interop/principles/osspatentpledge....

Which specific Covered Specifications do you think are involved in this suit?

The pledge you cite (which is legally binding, BTW) is for people implementing specific specifications that Microsoft has listed under specific circumstances.

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