After finishing a partial revision of the initial decision for the case, the ITC sided with the administrative law judge who ruled that Motorola didn’t violate the three Apple patents. In October 2010, Apple had first struck Motorola back with the ITC complaint claiming that the telecom giant’s Droid, Droid 2 and Droid X, along with some handsets, illegitimately took advantage of its existing multitouch patents. In January, an AJL discovered the Motorola didn’t infringe on the claimed Apple patents. The three patents that were alleged against Motorola referred to the multipoint touchscreen, ellipse fitting for multi-touch surfaces and object-oriented system locator system.
Apple has a right to appeal the decision in the federal court. On the opinion of Florian Mueller with FOSS patents, the company will likely do this, taking into account the fact that the California tech giant is appealing an ITC ruling involving the Asian company HTC that it has partially won.
Google was closely watching the ITC researches mentioned above, as the outcome of each has a direct impact on either the Android OS or the search giant itself, since Google is currently in the process of buying out Motorola for reported $12.5 billion.
In February, Mueller had pointed out that Google filed statements of public interest with the ITC related both to HTC and Motorola investigations as a self-declared “non-party.” An exclusion order from the ITC would reward Apple for claiming patented technologies that are insignificant parts of the accused products at best, Google argued in its statement. The company has also noted that Apple requires no protection from the market forces. Being the largest mobile device vendor, it generated a record $46.33 billion in revenue last quarter, with $13.06 billion in quarterly net profit.
I shudder to think about the number of lawsuits Apple would be involved in if it ever stopped making ridiculous amounts of money. Talk about sore winners.
I just want all these lawsuits to end.
Excellent. Motorola is now free to continue their downward spiral, unfettered.
Keep pushing, Apple. From what we’ve seen at CES, there is no shortage of targets.
Those patent descriptions were WAAAAY over my head…
Besides, I’m afraid I infringe on the “object-oriented system locator system” when I fumble for my lamp switch in the dark.
Oh well… Apple has plenty of other patents to clobber Googorola.
Motorola is essentially a dead $12 billion company being used as an ineffective patent weapon.
What a waste…
When everything else fails, at least we’ll have denial.
What exactly has Apple gained from the Steve Jobs nuclear litigation strategy? Miscellaneous positive and negative ruling with counter-suits in various jurisdictions around the world resulting in a rather expensive stalemate. I would hope that Mr Cook and company would take a more rational view, and cut some deals with the big companies ala Google, Samsung, etc. Use the legal budget to defend against the never ending stream of patent trolls such Proview and sue those who make obviously copies of their products that any lay non-tech person (to include the Judges that make rulings) will readily understand, ala Pystar. If somebody starts making knock-off iPhones that run iOS, you probably have a good case.
Agree with your comments and I think you will see some things being negotiated, especially now that Nortel 4G patent sale to Apple was approved. However I agree with the strategy Apple is using, not for “wins” but for deterrence – in fact they were slow to do this. Lets face it, the sheer numbers of patents each of these companies have, allows them to be in litigation for a very very long time. Apple needs to innovate, and it will. But the ‘rip off’ companies (you know who you are) will be a little more mindful of infringement, knowing Apple’s response.
Google is truly the new evil. Apple is big so their patents shouldn’t be honored is what Google is saying. And it’s ok that we have stolen from them.
They truly are scumbags.
Excellent.
Now they’re free to continue their slide into irrelevance, unfettered.
Apple has GOT to stop filing these frivolous patent suits. It is unseemly, and is bad fot theri reputation.
They are getting known as sue-happy, and it looks like they use illegitimate means to compete, instead of innovating.
And the pendulum swings again. I can’t see anyone scoring a total home run in this patent war. Everyone should put their iPeckers and DroidPeckers back in their pants and negotiate peacefully rather than pissfully.
done…another wast of time ends with no benefit. Apple just needs to let this stupidity go.
Yeah, don’t bother defending and protecting your stuff at all. That’s pointless.
On an unrelated note, have you ever created anything? I’m in the market for ripping things off wholesale, and I’d like to get a jump on the proper stuff.
I like it better when Slash Lane or DED writes these things. Instead of dry legal facts, he’ll use terms like “war”, “battle”, and “troops”
Hehe
So what happens now?
Back to square 1?
Winners: Lawyers laughing their asses off to the bank.
Based on Googles arguements and dismissals of Apple, Apple should be able to open a search portal without any objection from Google seeing as Google are so HUGE in search as to be unassailable.
Idiots
Since the ITC’s only remedy is a nuclear option (import ban), they are reluctant to use it. My guess is that as both Apple and Android OEMs keep losing these lawsuits, they will eventually change course, and Apple will adopt a licensing strategy.
If you read Foss Patents’ blog, you get the impression that Apple needs to hire better lawyers, though. They seem to be making basic mistakes in the Android lawsuits.
possible karma effect
aapl copied xerox parc
now everyone copies aapl
Since the ITC’s only remedy is a nuclear option (import ban), they are reluctant to use it. My guess is that as both Apple and Android OEMs keep losing these lawsuits, they will eventually change course, and Apple will adopt a licensing strategy.
If you read Foss Patents’ blog, you get the impression that Apple needs to hire better lawyers, though. They seem to be making basic mistakes in the Android lawsuits.
Those patent wars need to find an end because they’re just stupid. Patents on things like multitouch gestures is like having a patent on how to open a door or the grip of an umbrella – it’s just ridiculous. The fact companies can get patents on such basic things just shows that there are people who don’t know anything about technology are in the wrong positions.
Someone, cite one example where the ITC made a decision that stopped a smartphone from import. It has to be something where there are no work-arounds like in HTC or Samsung case. I doubt you’ll find a case, because those decisions are damaging/damning if made wrong.
While its impressive that you are aware of ITC’s available remedies (for the most part), what makes you think that weighs on whether or not they issued a judgement in favor of Motorola? Either Motorola violated Apple’s patents or they didn’t, and in this case, they didn’t. If Apple feels differently, they can seek presidential review or pursue to court of appeals. My guess is, they expected this outcome.
This is a travesty of justice. I hope AAPL can hire some better lawyers and wipe the floor with these Android companies and send the Roid fanboys back to ‘occupying’ their parents’ basement. Maybe it’s time to send the Washington DC lobbyists to outright ban Android.
Whoa there. Got a little ‘Roid Rage?
Excellent. Motorola is now free to continue their downward spiral, unfettered.
Keep pushing, Apple. From what we’ve seen at CES, there is no shortage of targets.
Except there is one thing that Motorola beats Apple hands down at, RF. In a fringe area, a Motorola phone will make a call where the iPhone won’t.
… Apple is quickly becoming the biggest patent troll in mobile.
Let’s at least use the right terminology!
A patent troll is one who buys and enforces patents against one or more alleged infringers, often with no intention to further develop, manufacture or market the patented invention.
Apple builds things, ergo, not a troll.
Downvote the ITC!
Let’s at least use the right terminology!
A patent troll is one who buys and enforces patents against one or more alleged infringers, often with no intention to further develop, manufacture or market the patented invention.
Apple builds things, ergo, not a troll.
Actually Apple did make a deal with a patent troll.
Looking forward to when all these patents go out of date… we’ll finally be able to get a single device that has ALL the nice features
Aaaand, the patent lawyers cash their huge cheques.
not yet. This was just the ITC, not actual courts. Apple will likely still file a court suit
Ah well, an even bigger cheque for the lawyers then.
Wow… an apple patent story worth reading…
Who knew?
Motorola must have paid the judges.
With what money?
Buying motorola was the best thing Google did. In one hit they bought more patents than Apple has and will gain in years about mobile devices!
Ones Google is ready, they are going to milk Apple like a cow! Just like Microsoft does with android OEMs. Appel saw this coming, that is why they are suing for non-sens.
How does Microsoft milk Android OEMs?
Microsoft forced licensing deals to take a fee per handset with Android OEM’s with the boatload of patents they had from making Windows Mobile way back when. It goes around that Microsoft makes more money taking from Android OEM’s than selling WP7 devices.
Its not just a license fee, I cant find information right now but I seem to remember that some of the OEMs who signed deals with Microsoft also agreed not to do certain things with Android/add certain features to their Android phones or something like that.
BOOM!
Apple let the people decide and not the COURTS!!!
True and ppl’s verdict is with Android.
Apple just lost a small battle within his ‘THERMONUCLEAR WAR’ against android.
If only Apple could sue Moto for the non disposable battery of the Droid 4 …
Non disposable battery should be patented by Apple. No one else should copy such a non sense.
Non-removable battery is the biggest tramp. I feel like getting sick when ignorant iFans try to defend it.
Hahaha agreed! no one should copy apple’s idea of non-user replaceable battery. Bought samsung galaxy s2 because i can bring spare batteries with me.