RCPmag

Open Menu Open Menu


Barney's Blog

Blog archive

Redmond vs. Android

Microsoft isn't just fighting Google's Android in the market (a battle that will heat up with the release of Windows Mobile 7), it may also wage a patent war in the courts.

Microsoft has patents upon which Android apparently infringes. Microsoft reached an agreement with phone-maker HTC which releases them from patent action.

This deal legitimizes, to some degree, the Microsoft patents, making it easier for Redmond to press its case against Android creator Google -- which I'm sure they'd love to do.

These cases may be legit, but they can also harm users as royalties drive up prices and sometimes good technologies are yanked. And if a patent war ensues, I'm sure Google has plenty to pester Microsoft with.

Are patents an evil that only harms customers or a necessary protection for true inventions? Send your thoughts, royalty-free, to dbarney@redmondmag.com.

Posted by Doug Barney on May 03, 2010 at 11:53 AM


Featured

  • Microsoft Previews Whiteboard Support in Teams Rooms Devices

    A preview of a new Microsoft Teams Rooms feature will enable organizations to use images of physical whiteboards as a dynamic space for videoconferencing.

  • 2019 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss this year.

  • Microsoft Warns of Heightened Threat of 'BlueKeep' Attacks

    Older Windows systems using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Services are at acute risk of remote code execution attacks due to the "BlueKeep" vulnerability.

  • The 2019 Microsoft Product Roadmap

    From the next major update to Windows 10 to the next generation of HoloLens, here's what's on tap from Microsoft this year.

Most   Popular