Motorola, owned by Google, has been dealt a blow by a US district judge concerning its ongoing rivalry with Microsoft concerning the use of patents. US District Judge James Robart has ruled that Motorola cannot require $4 billion a year in payments from Microsoft for the use of patented wireless technology, noting that the licenses for the technology are worse less than half of that $4 billion sum. The ruling is the latest development in the rivalry, in which both companies sued each other for use of those patents; Motorola accused Microsoft of patent infringement, while Microsoft accused Motorola of excessive licensing fees. It’s part of a larger issue concerning patents within antitrust, as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as well as the International Telecommunication Union requires both conglomerates to license essential patents on a RANT basis – reasonable and nondiscriminatory. Judge Robart had previously chastised both companies for being “arrogant” in their cases, arguing that the companies are part of a larger ploy in the fight for “commercial advantage.” The judge’s earlier decision ruled that Microsoft is entitled to a license from Motorola; soon after, a judge in Germany ruled that Microsoft had breached its licensing agreement with Motorola.
Full Content: Courthouse News
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Redfin Settles $9.2M Commission Inflation Lawsuits
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
DOJ Supports Colorado’s Efforts to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
Japan Considers Regulation of AI Developers
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
European Commission Extends Decision Deadline for Ita-Lufthansa Merger
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
UK, US and Australia Sanction Senior Leader of LockBit Cybercrime Gang
May 7, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI