Motorola Wins Injunction Against Microsoft in Germany - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 02 May 2012 / 3,899 Views
Motorola has won its injunction against the sales of several Microsoft products in Germany, according to a BBC news report. The Xbox 360, Windows 7, Internet Explorer and Windows Media would be banned from being sold or downloaded in Germany. Microsoft had infringed on two patents that use H.264 video coding and playback.
A US court has banned Motorola from enforcing the ban until it finalizes on the injunction next week. Microsoft has said that it has met all of Motorola's demands that it would have to pay $4 billion annually. "We are pleased that the Mannheim Court found that Microsoft products infringe Motorola Mobility's intellectual property," said a statement from Motorola. "As a path forward, we remain open to resolving this matter. Fair compensation is all that we have been seeking for our intellectual property."
"This is one step in a long process, and we are confident that Motorola will eventually be held to its promise to make its standard essential patents available on fair and reasonable terms for the benefit of consumers who enjoy video on the web," a Microsoft spokesman said. "Motorola is prohibited from acting on today's decision, and our business in Germany will continue as usual while we appeal this decision and pursue the fundamental issue of Motorola's broken promise."
Microsoft did move its European software distribution center last month to the Netherlands from Germany in order to minimize the potential damage. Motorola can't enforce the ruling until a Seattle judge lifts a restraining order that is currently in place. A hearing is schedule to take place on May 7, however the judge does not have to issue his ruling until a later date. The German case is also likely to be seen by the European Commission.
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A German injuction that can be put on hold by a Judge in the USA... useful...
Oh patent wars, patent wars...
Two reasons for that one the case started in the US. But Motorola decided to bring it up in Germany also. Plus Motorola is a US company so it works in this case.
I highly doubt Motorola actually believes $4 billion is fair compensation.
Someone should make a game based on patent wars. Epic shit.
Fair compensation is all that we have been seeking for our intellectual property
4billion a year..... Really?
4B annually. Wow.
I hope Motorola isn't just being patent trolls here, because that would just be ridiculous. I dislike patent trolls. And regardless or whether one agrees or disagrees with the ruling, it's also ridiculous that a US court can order them to not act on an injunction issued in Germany. We over step our boundaries sometimes.
just like with MegaUpload. The servers were in Europe and still they shut them down.
Looks like Google wants to screw M$. (Google bought Motorola)
So continue the patent wars...
You know what, if your blog started offering video codecs for free you would be sued.
This has got nothing to do with patent trolling, its about MS not being as big as they used to be (they can't get away with it). Im glad for Apple, since they can now teach MS a lesson, but unfortunately i don't believe Apple will be any more gracious in their success.
