Google Launches Patent Attack On Apple

[Sabre]

TechDirt

For years, despite being the defendant in tons of patent suits, and despite having a decent patent portfolio of its own, Google had never gone on the offensive with its patents against others. With the purchase of Motorola Mobility, it inherited an ongoing court case against Apple, which was unceremoniously dumped by Judge Posner. However, now there's news that Motorola Mobility has gone to the ITC to seek an injunction against Apple for the iPhone, iPad and some of its computers as well. Filing at the ITC can only lead to an injunction, rather than monetary damages, but the threat of an injunction is pretty big no matter what, and can often force a company to pay up.

What's disappointing here is that, even though this is coming from the Motorola side of things, as far as I can tell, it's the first time that Google itself could be described as a patent aggressor. For a company that had been coming out vocally about just how broken the patent system was, and which seemed to be fighting the good fight on stopping such abuses of patents to block competition, this is disappointing.

Yes, it's typical for companies, as they get bigger, older and less innovative, to start becoming patent aggressors, but Google had kept away from doing so for a long time, and certainly appeared, publicly, to have no interest in going down this road. Combined with the company's recent decision to cave on copyright issues as well, it seems that Google is taking some dangerous steps around copyright and patent law -- both of which may go against its own long-term best interests.

I really hope this came from MM and not Google, even if they are the same company right not.

[Raven]

I think this is likely the first time Google heard of this. I would not want to be the MM legal team tomorrow.

[complacent]

google appointed their own ceo back in may, long term googler dennis woodside

don't think for a second this didn't come from the top. this is intentional, and not the first patent lawsuit mm has brought to the table since being acquired.

acquire currency, disregard females. the new google way.

[Libra Monkee]

acquire currency, disregard females. the new google way.

[complacent]

this just keeps getting better... same date as sabre's article - google says patent wars stifle innovation

nothing to see here, not a thingy-dingy.

which one is it google?

[scheherazade]

I don't feel particularly offended if they use the patent system in self defense.

Don't hate the player, hate the game?

-scheherazade

[complacent]

I don't feel particularly offended if they use the patent system in self defense.

Don't hate the player, hate the game?

-scheherazade

i don't think that was the concern... i think it was the irony of google filing a patent lawsuit at more-or-less the same time they decry patent lawsuits in general.

i'm fine to hate the game, but they're kind of playing both sides on this issue.

not that many other companies are any better.

[Mr Kleen]

Can I hate a game hating player?

[complacent]

Can I hate a game hating player?

Kleen for President 2012

[scheherazade]

I don't feel particularly offended if they use the patent system in self defense.

Don't hate the player, hate the game?

-scheherazade

i don't think that was the concern... i think it was the irony of google filing a patent lawsuit at more-or-less the same time they decry patent lawsuits in general.

i'm fine to hate the game, but they're kind of playing both sides on this issue.

not that many other companies are any better.

This may sound stupid, but...
To use starcraft as an analogy...
If you only defend/turtle, there is a chance you'll repel an attack, and there's a chance that you won't.
But the chance of winning when you're not attacking is 0.

Apple will eventually win a suit time to time.
Given enough time/suits, Apple will cripple Google.
Not counter-suing is akin to suicide. You're just letting the opponent make unchecked inroads until they take you out.
Google may not want to sue - but they still have to.

So long as Google isn't going out starting patent wars, then I won't consider their actions as hypocrisy.

-scheherazade