Microsoft has won a key patent battle against Motorola Mobility's Droid X2.
According to a preliminary ruling by a US trade panel judge the technology nicked covers techniques to schedule meetings and synchronise group calendars from a smartphone. The International Trade Commission judge found there was no violation of six other disputed patents but one infringement might be enough for Microsoft to take other Android-based handset maker to the cleaners.
Microsoft already charges HTC, Samsung and others royalties for technologies used in Google's operating system which it claims makes use of some of its innovations. In October the Windows software-maker said it had struck licence deals with companies "accounting for more than half of all Android devices".
The win means that other other handset makers may now fall in line and pay Microsoft's lawyers to go away. If Microsoft wants it could also go after other phone makers who include a calendar and which lets you send meeting scheduling requests by email. The devices involved included the Motorola Droid 2, the Droid X, and the Backflip.
Doom follows
Published in
Games
Latest from Nick Farell