Xbox manufacturer Microsoft has rejected a settlement offer from Motorola in an ongoing patent dispute between the two hardware giants. Had Microsoft accepted, the settlement would have resolved a long-running court case that affects the future of both Android phones and Xbox 360s in the United States. For some background, Microsoft previously accused several Android phone manufacturers of violating its patent for ActiveSync, a technology that powers calendar syncing on some Android phones. While multiple manufacturers reached settlementswith Microsoft, Motorola (owned by Google) did not, instead countersuing on the grounds that Microsoft is in violation of five Motorola patents on both the Xbox 360 and Windows, including built-in WiFi and video decoding technology. Motorola believes that Microsoft should pay royalties for the use of this technologies.
The case gained attention back in April when a judge ruled that Microsoft did indeed infringe upon four out of the five Motorola Mobility patents it was accused of violating. At that time, the judge decided that a six-person commission would need to review the extent of each infringement, and a decision against Microsoft would prevent imports of the Xbox 360 to the United States. Since the Xbox 360 is manufactured in China, blocking imports would effectively kill U.S. sales of the console.
Separately, an international ruling in favor of Motorola in early May similarly found that Microsoft had violated Motorola’s patents, banning sales of Xbox 360, Windows 7, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player in Germany. Microsoft immediately planned to appeal. Later that month, things looked worse for Microsoft as a judge recommended againstcontinued sales of Xbox 360 consoles in the United States. While this decision was only a recommendation (the final decision will be made by the International Trade Commission later this year), it could have a great deal of influence on the final call.
Xbox manufacturer Microsoft has rejected a settlement offer from Motorola in an ongoing patent dispute between the two hardware giants. Had Microsoft accepted, the settlement would have resolved a long-running court case that affects the future of both Android phones and Xbox 360s in the United States. For some background, Microsoft previously accused several Android phone manufacturers of violating its patent for ActiveSync, a technology that powers calendar syncing on some Android phones. While multiple manufacturers reached settlementswith Microsoft, Motorola (owned by Google) did not, instead countersuing on the grounds that Microsoft is in violation of five Motorola patents on both the Xbox 360 and Windows, including built-in WiFi and video decoding technology. Motorola believes that Microsoft should pay royalties for the use of this technologies.
The case gained attention back in April when a judge ruled that Microsoft did indeed infringe upon four out of the five Motorola Mobility patents it was accused of violating. At that time, the judge decided that a six-person commission would need to review the extent of each infringement, and a decision against Microsoft would prevent imports of the Xbox 360 to the United States. Since the Xbox 360 is manufactured in China, blocking imports would effectively kill U.S. sales of the console.
Separately, an international ruling in favor of Motorola in early May similarly found that Microsoft had violated Motorola’s patents, banning sales of Xbox 360, Windows 7, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player in Germany. Microsoft immediately planned to appeal. Later that month, things looked worse for Microsoft as a judge recommended againstcontinued sales of Xbox 360 consoles in the United States. While this decision was only a recommendation (the final decision will be made by the International Trade Commission later this year), it could have a great deal of influence on the final call.
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Edited by Tails