Microsoft Sues Motorola Over Android

Nick Wingfield, reporting for the WSJ:

Microsoft Corp. accused Motorola Inc. of violating its patents with smartphones that use Google Inc.’s Android operating system, firing a legal salvo in the a market where Microsoft has struggled.

The Redmond, Wash., company said it filed complaints against Motorola with the International Trade Commission and federal court in Seattle, alleging that Motorola’s Android-based phones violate nine Microsoft patents covering the synchronization of email, calendars and contacts, scheduling of meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.

Remember back in April, when HTC signed this agreement with Microsoft:

Microsoft Corp. and HTC Corp. have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for HTC’s mobile phones running the Android mobile platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties from HTC.

So Microsoft’s stance is that handset makers can use Windows Phone 7 and pay Microsoft, or they can use Android and pay Microsoft. They’re suing Motorola (I wonder if Samsung is next) but the target is Google — just like with Apple’s suit against HTC.

★ Friday, 1 October 2010