When HTC entered into a deal with Microsoft earlier this year, it was clear that Android has hit the a road that connects to Microsofts patent portfolio. Back then Microsoft had mentioned that they are talking to other manufacturers and it seems that talks with Motorola failed leading up to this lawsuit. Yes Microsoft has announced that they have sued Motorola for violating 9 of its patents. These patents are relating to synchronization of email, calendars and contacts, scheduling of meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.
Not much is known about this complaint but Microsoft has filed a suit us a US District Court and with the ITC (International Trade Commission). And as with other patent suits relating to the smartphone market, this might go on for years to come.
Why deal with HTC and lawsuit with Motorola?
There can be several reasons for talks between Microsoft and Motorola failing or if we look the other way around, license deal between HTC and Microsoft going through. HTC for long has been a Windows Mobile manufacturer and would remain so with the Windows Phone 7. At the same time HTC already faces lawsuit from Apple and and it would have made sense for them to secure the other side with Microsoft.
Part of the reason can also be the fact that Motorola has put all its energy behind Android and its smartphones like the Droid / Milestone are the best selling Android device. Certainly Microsoft would have bargained hard to get some $$ from Motorola for licensing their patents.
Surprisingly Google isn’t named yet and except the Oracle suit, there isn’t any high profile lawsuit against Google related to Android^. The smartphone race is not deeply buried under lawsuits with Nokia, Apple, HTC, Microsoft … all getting dirty with lawsuits and complaints to the International Trade Commission. Hope this doesn’t hamper the growth and innovation of the handhelds that gives us the final edge towards productivity!
^AFAIK (Unless I have been living under a rock this bit should be true, but I might have missed some more patent suits against Android).
