Google Claims a 'Hostile, Organized Campaign Against Android'

androidGoogle believes Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and other companies are waging a "hostile, organized campaign against Android" though "bogus patents", according to a post on the Official Google Blog:

They’re doing this by banding together to acquire Novell’s old patents (the “CPTN” group including Microsoft and Apple) and Nortel’s old patents (the “Rockstar” group including Microsoft and Apple), to make sure Google didn’t get them; seeking $15 licensing fees for every Android device; attempting to make it more expensive for phone manufacturers to license Android (which we provide free of charge) than Windows Mobile; and even suing Barnes & Noble, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung. Patents were meant to encourage innovation, but lately they are being used as a weapon to stop it.

The post, written by David Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Google, also attacks Microsoft and Apple's $4.5 billion winning bid for Nortel's portfolio (which is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice on antitrust grounds), saying the patent war is "escalating the cost of patents way beyond what they’re really worth." Google's final losing bid for Nortel's patent assets was around $4 billion.

A few weeks ago, it was rumored that Apple and Google were weighing competing bids for InterDigital, a mobile-technology firm that has an extensive wireless patent portfolio. That portfolio could sell for billions as well.

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Top Rated Comments

ck2875 Avatar
178 months ago
And what exactly was Google going to do with the patents had they of won them for $4B? Share them with Microsoft and Apple for free?
Score: 131 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goMac Avatar
178 months ago
I bet Google wouldn't feel the same way if Apple was infringing on it's search patents.
Score: 75 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wingsy Avatar
178 months ago
Consider Suing Me?

Anyone who thinks Apple plays a fair game is a clown. I own all Apple computers, but if they don't show consideration for anyone but themselves soon, that will be coming to an end.

Let's assume for a minute that you're a professional artist. You create a very nice painting. I take a picture of it and start selling postcards with your painting on the back.

Would you show me some "consideration" and not sue me?
Score: 55 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BaldiMac Avatar
178 months ago
This post by Google is pure propaganda.

Simple questions for Google:

If the patents are "dubious", why were you willing to pay $4 billion for them?

If they are not all dubious, why do you think you and your partners should be able to implement them for free?
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jerome Morrow Avatar
178 months ago
Google would be doing the same thing. You can spin this any way you want from any angle you want.

The lone voice of reason on forum of Appleonians.
Don't be ridiculous.
Score: 51 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimUSCA Avatar
178 months ago
Wow, Google seems pretty butt hurt over the Nortel patents.
Score: 51 Votes (Like | Disagree)