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 [email protected]

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


Featured

  • Microsoft Announces Positive Q4 Revenue Results of $46.2B

    Microsoft on Tuesday reported $46.2 billion in total revenue during its fiscal-year 2021 Q4 period, up 21% from the same quarter last year.

  • The 2021 Microsoft Product Roadmap

    From Windows 10X to the next generation of Microsoft's application server products, here are the product milestones coming down the pipeline in 2021.

  • Kaseya Unlocking REvil-Encrypted Data Using Universal Key

    IT solutions firm Kaseya is now using a "universal decryptor key" for customers affected by a REvil ransomware attack.

  • Microsoft Unveils Plans To End Microsoft Stores for Business and Education

    The online Microsoft Store for Business and Microsoft Store for Education will be ending in the "first quarter of 2023," per a Microsoft document as well as a Wednesday announcement.

Most   Popular