Why No War Over MS's Android Patent Shakedown? 174
jfruhlinger writes "When challenged directly by Oracle over Android intellectual property, Google has proven itself a feisty opponent. So why is it sitting back and letting Microsoft shake down OEMs over its claims to own patents that Android infringes? A disheartened Tom Henderson thinks it's because Microsoft has been smart to go after the vendors rather than poke at Google directly. Still, he wonders when Google will get into the fight."
Glyn Moody thinks Google should join the fight as well.
Re:Not Sco at all (Score:5, Informative)
In this case, careful review by a number of hardware makers has led them to pay Microsoft to license the patents. We may not know exactly what they are using but you can bet the companies paying Microsoft had to have pretty good proof before they simply handed over per-device fees to another company.
I doubt that. All the companies that have licensed the patents for their Android devices also ship Windows devices. More than likely Microsoft threatened them over Windows pricing if they didn't agree to the patents. See the monopoly trial transcripts on Microsoft's use of predatory pricing tactics.
The one Android using company that didn't license the patents also doesn't ship any Windows versions. According to Barnes and Noble the patents are weak. See
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/04/28/039255/BampN-Responds-To-Microsofts-Android-Suit [slashdot.org]
Food for thought,
Enjoy.
Considering the source... (Score:5, Informative)
You've regressed so far that you think misspelling "Microsoft" with the word "shit" in it is either creative, useful, funny, or relevant, so I'll forgive you just being wrong for the rest of your post.