A battle of giants has happened through social media. Google and Microsoft, two companies that needs no introduction here, have been accusing each other of the most harmful practices to the full development of a competitive market. At issue is the auction of patents previously under the administration of Novell, whose team has won Microsoft and Apple. Google did not like the story and decided to put his mouth on trombone.
Accuses Google
On Wednesday (03), a text written by the executive responsible for legal affairs Google started the discussion. David Drummond Microsoft and Apple accuses of arming a plot against Android. The consortium led by the two companies made the highest bid and took thousands of patents from Novell. Drummond says there is an "organized campaign and hostile" against its mobile platform operated by two competing companies, in addition to Oracle and other companies.
The winning bid of Novell's patents was $ 4.5 billion. An exorbitant amount compared to the $ 1 billion minimum for the sale happen. In pursuit of patents that make it difficult to allow distribution of Android, the group of companies rose as much about his bid to quadruple the price of Novell's patents.
"Patents were designed to encourage innovation, but lately they are being used as a weapon to stop it," writes executive. According to him, Microsoft has a strategy to undermine the Android includes charge up to $ 15 on each device sold with the platform - all thanks to patents it owns.
Microsoft responds
Call for the clash, Microsoft apparently has an answer for the charges up to Google. This time on Twitter, general counsel Brad Smith said Google was invited to join the consortium, led by Microsoft and Apple itself, would win the auction.
Not only that, it became a screenshot of email exchanged in October 2010 in which a director of Google says it has no interest in joining the consortium. In the message, Kent Walker says that "a number of reasons for a joint bid would not be advisable for us right now." Very politely, Walker appreciates the invitation.
See for yourself:
By addressing this issue, the MS has hinted that Google complains about not getting the package of patents from Novell, but was not willing to make a bid together.
The replica Google
After seeing a seemingly legitimate email from one of its executives, Google returned the charges. In no time the company denies having declined the invitation to bid jointly with Microsoft to buy the package of patents. When you update your text with new posts, David Drummond says the competitor wants to take any patent that would allow Google and its Android partners to defend itself against "attacks".
If Google would get the bid together, the same patents valid for Android could be used for Windows or Phone iOS, for example. All winners of the patents would have the same rights over it, making it impossible to sue a member of the group, in intellectual property disputes that have already tired of seeing.
Drummond suggests that other patents bought by Microsoft could be used in future processes that disrupt the Android. However, by participating in a joint bid, Google would not have patents for its proprietary trading in future cases. The famous "tit, tat" would not be possible, therefore.
The rejoinder of Microsoft
Frank Shaw, responsible for all part of Microsoft's public relations, wrote several tweets about it. In short:
"We offer Google the opportunity to make a bid to buy us the patents from Novell, said no. Why? Because he wants to buy what they could use against others. Then, close partnerships with others (...) is not something they wanted to help. "
The silence from Apple
So far, Apple has not a word about it. The charge involved the Google home both the company Steve Jobs as Microsoft. As the story unfolds, Microsoft responded and was charged again, while Apple has maintained an impenetrable silence.
And what about the story?
The Department of Justice of the United States earlier this year ruled that Microsoft must sell its patents obtained in the purchase involving the intellectual property of Novell. It also established that other partners in the consortium license their patents on fair, even for Google to use them in Android.
I have the impression that Google fired accusations against Microsoft recalling the case of Novell's patent, but with the recent sale of Nortel's patents in view. As you know, the group that Microsoft took the integrated package of patents. And Google has warned: expect the U.S. Justice Department intercede again, as happened before in the case of Novell's patents.
Accuses Google
On Wednesday (03), a text written by the executive responsible for legal affairs Google started the discussion. David Drummond Microsoft and Apple accuses of arming a plot against Android. The consortium led by the two companies made the highest bid and took thousands of patents from Novell. Drummond says there is an "organized campaign and hostile" against its mobile platform operated by two competing companies, in addition to Oracle and other companies.
The winning bid of Novell's patents was $ 4.5 billion. An exorbitant amount compared to the $ 1 billion minimum for the sale happen. In pursuit of patents that make it difficult to allow distribution of Android, the group of companies rose as much about his bid to quadruple the price of Novell's patents.
"Patents were designed to encourage innovation, but lately they are being used as a weapon to stop it," writes executive. According to him, Microsoft has a strategy to undermine the Android includes charge up to $ 15 on each device sold with the platform - all thanks to patents it owns.
Microsoft responds
Call for the clash, Microsoft apparently has an answer for the charges up to Google. This time on Twitter, general counsel Brad Smith said Google was invited to join the consortium, led by Microsoft and Apple itself, would win the auction.
Not only that, it became a screenshot of email exchanged in October 2010 in which a director of Google says it has no interest in joining the consortium. In the message, Kent Walker says that "a number of reasons for a joint bid would not be advisable for us right now." Very politely, Walker appreciates the invitation.
See for yourself:
By addressing this issue, the MS has hinted that Google complains about not getting the package of patents from Novell, but was not willing to make a bid together.
The replica Google
After seeing a seemingly legitimate email from one of its executives, Google returned the charges. In no time the company denies having declined the invitation to bid jointly with Microsoft to buy the package of patents. When you update your text with new posts, David Drummond says the competitor wants to take any patent that would allow Google and its Android partners to defend itself against "attacks".
If Google would get the bid together, the same patents valid for Android could be used for Windows or Phone iOS, for example. All winners of the patents would have the same rights over it, making it impossible to sue a member of the group, in intellectual property disputes that have already tired of seeing.
Drummond suggests that other patents bought by Microsoft could be used in future processes that disrupt the Android. However, by participating in a joint bid, Google would not have patents for its proprietary trading in future cases. The famous "tit, tat" would not be possible, therefore.
The rejoinder of Microsoft
Frank Shaw, responsible for all part of Microsoft's public relations, wrote several tweets about it. In short:
"We offer Google the opportunity to make a bid to buy us the patents from Novell, said no. Why? Because he wants to buy what they could use against others. Then, close partnerships with others (...) is not something they wanted to help. "
The silence from Apple
So far, Apple has not a word about it. The charge involved the Google home both the company Steve Jobs as Microsoft. As the story unfolds, Microsoft responded and was charged again, while Apple has maintained an impenetrable silence.
And what about the story?
The Department of Justice of the United States earlier this year ruled that Microsoft must sell its patents obtained in the purchase involving the intellectual property of Novell. It also established that other partners in the consortium license their patents on fair, even for Google to use them in Android.
I have the impression that Google fired accusations against Microsoft recalling the case of Novell's patent, but with the recent sale of Nortel's patents in view. As you know, the group that Microsoft took the integrated package of patents. And Google has warned: expect the U.S. Justice Department intercede again, as happened before in the case of Novell's patents.
