Microsoft Makes Another Patent Deal, Expands Claims To Chrome
Posted on 06. Jul, 2011 by Nicholas Greene in Chrome OS, News
Apparently the thing to do when you’re worried about the competition nowadays is to take them to court.
For those of you who don’t know, Microsoft has been systematically going after a number Android Smartphone and Tablet OEMs out there, bullying and browbeating them into giving them money for each smartphone they sell; signing licensing deals left and right. Now, some of you might think I’m being unfair to Microsoft here- hey, maybe Android does violate some patent or another. Really? What patents does it violate? Considering how long this whole patent snafu has been going on, you’d think there’d be at least some information out there right?
What’s more, why doesn’t Microsoft simply go after Google if they’re so convinced that Android is responsible for copyright infringement? Because Google can fight back? That seems the most likely reason, doesn’t it? See, most of the companies Microsoft has been going after are markedly smaller than the computer industry supergiant. A lot of them are probably bowing out and caving to Microsoft’s licensing deals simply because they want to avoid a lengthy court battle with the company. Google has a legal department that rivals Microsoft, and could very easily return fire. The whole thing seems kind of sketchy, doesn’t it?
To be fair, Microsoft’s not the only company that’s been doing this- virtually every large company in the industry’s responsible for this sort of thing, to varying degrees. It’s all incredibly stupid, and it’s been playing out like a bad soap opera. Or an episode of Jerry Springer. Someone really needs to step in and say “enough is enough. Play nice, or go stand in separate corners.”
Now, a lot of you are probably thinking “What the hell? What does this have to do with Google Chrome?” I’m getting to that. And I daresay, you aren’t going to like it.
“Chrome Violates Our Patents”
“The Winstron deal “provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for Wistron’s tablets, mobile phones, e-readers and other consumer devices running the Android or Chrome platform.”
See, Microsoft recently struck a license agreement with the Taiwanese company Winstron, a stand-alone manufacturer for Acer products. This time, not only is Microsoft claiming that Winstron’s Android gadgets violate its “patents” but also that Google’s Chrome OS infringes upon its copyrights. Guess what Chrome OS product Winstron’s just started to churn out? That’s right, the AC700. They’re also chasing Samsung, asking for $15.00 per Android smartphone the company sells- three times what they’ve gotten from any other OEM. No word on whether or not they’re going after the Samsung Series 5, but they probably will.
I suppose it’s not anything new, though. Microsoft has been braying for several years about how open source operating systems such as Linux infringe upon several copyrights related to Microsoft Windows. Announcements such as this are rightly labelled FUD(Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) claims. And you know, it’s all hilariously ironic, given how Microsoft originally designed its first operating system. Considering how much Windows “borrowed” from other companies, their flurry of dealmaking seems a touch hypocritical, don’t you think?
I’m not disputing that Microsoft may have legitimate claims. I’m just saying that until they release the so called list of ‘infringements’ that they’re so adamant exist-which they haven’t yet, to my knowledge-I’m going to just assume they’re blowing smoke and attempting to recoup their losses in the market. Geekwire’s contacted Microsoft asking for clarification on the Chrome patent infringements. We’ll see if they get anything coherent in response.
via Geekwire
14 Responses to “Microsoft Makes Another Patent Deal, Expands Claims To Chrome”
Leave a Reply
Andy
06. Jul, 2011
More FUD -is Microsoft only business strategy just based on being a patent troll to recoup their losses??
Agree “it’s all hilariously ironic, given how Microsoft originally designed its first operating system”
If Microsoft does have legitimate claims to all these patents and great technology – why don’t they use the technology to design better products – like everyone else is ?
微软再次挑起专利案，并将矛头延伸至了Chrome - Chrome.So | 专注于Google Chrome与Chrome OS
07. Jul, 2011
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谷奥: 微软称 Chrome OS 侵权，大棒打向 Acer Chromebook 制造商 - 大熊
07. Jul, 2011
[...] the Chrome Source Pic via radovleugel 本站文章除注明转载外，均为本站原创编译 [...]
Nemanja
08. Jul, 2011
http://www.groklaw.net/pdf2/MSvB&Nanswer.pdf
You can see what are these patents – mostly trivial.
微软称 Chrome OS 侵权，大棒打向 Acer Chromebook 制造商 · ·
08. Jul, 2011
[...] the Chrome Source Pic via [...]
Anonymous
08. Jul, 2011
That’s a bad news……
I hope Google facing the patent problems as soon as possible, or the manufacturers will abandon the OS that Google contributed.
JJ
08. Jul, 2011
That’s a bad news……
I hope Google facing the patent problems as soon as possible, or the manufacturers will abandon the OS that Google contributed.
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Ken
28. Sep, 2011
Please stop spreading your misinformation. Microsoft not going after Google has nothing to do with their size or whatever fight they have in them. Samsung’s market cap is not that small. It tops 100 Billion. You seriously think that is considered a small company? You think a company that size couldn’t fight back? The reason Microsoft does not go after Google is more to do with the law and is of course a strategic one. Depending on what stage a product is in the production chain, it does not have to pass this hurdle. Unfortunately for manufacturing companies like Samsung, HTC, etc, during the final stages, they must pass this hurdle. If they do not clear possible patent infringements, they will be liable for it.