EU Warns Nokia Not To Become a Patent Troll 78
Barence writes "The vice president of the European Commission's Competition unit has warned Nokia not to become a 'patent troll'. Nokia is in the process of selling its devices business to Microsoft, giving rise to fears that the remaining part of Nokia will make more aggressive use of its patents portfolio. Vice president Joaquin Almunia said that the commission had dismissed the possibility that 'Nokia would be tempted to behave like a patent troll' when it cleared the way for Microsoft to acquire Nokia's devices division – but warned that 'if Nokia were to take illegal advantage of its patents in the future, we will open an antitrust case.' 'I sincerely hope we will not have to,' said Almunia."
Part of the plan (Score:2, Insightful)
I suspect that that is a part of Microsoft's business model for the future Nokia.
It already dabbles in it, but now it will be free to pursue Android manufacturers without having any product of its own which could be attacked in a MAD world.
Typical american slasdotters (Score:5, Insightful)
European Government actually does something about patent trolls.
American Slashdotter: "Damn europeans! Always picking on our good ol hard workin corporations. Its about freedom and choice. Don't they get it."
Re:Oh dear (Score:5, Insightful)
Sounds like your friend was one of the lucky ones.
Last time I got canned, I was told part of it was because of my "toxic attitude". A few days prior I had sent an email describing how to do something correctly (based on industry accepted practices) and had a conversation with the "Director" about some of the developers in India that were making a mess of several of my projects (he told me to send the email).
After they gave me my severance and I got home, I started to realize just how lucky I was. Thank god I don't work for that outfit anymore.
Re:TROLLL.. TROLL! (Score:5, Insightful)
The difference is that Motorola is actually making phones and doing research while Nokia is just riding the coattails of a division that no longer exists.
Since Motorola is still in the game it still uses other people patents. If they are a dick towards others then the other patent holders will be dicks towards Motorola. There is an incentive for Motorola to play fair. Nokia does not have that restraint. They could be huge dicks and the other handset manufactures could not retaliate directly against them. Not saying that Nokia will be a dick – just that they could.
Re:Typical american slasdotters (Score:5, Insightful)
This American Slashdotter thinks it's good. Companies and people should be regulated in proportion to the harm they are capable of doing. Monsanto, a corporation that has literally created PCBs that cover the entire planet, should be regulated to hell. The corner small businessperson shouldn't. I don't see how that is unreasonable.
What he actually said (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Nokia? (Score:2, Insightful)
I have a Nokia C3-00 phone that I got from Walmart. It is a pre-paid phone I got because... Well... I need a phone not a damned computer. It works very well as a phone with a far longer battery life than any of the so called smart phones out there. A single charge lasts me a week on this thing. Can you say the same about an iphone or galaxy?