German Court Grants Motorola Xbox and Windows 7 Sales Ban 163
First time accepted submitter Celexi writes "In a surprising move, Motorola Mobility (which is to be taken over by Google), has won an injunction preventing the distribution of Windows 7 and the Xbox in Germany until Microsoft starts paying royalty fees for the patents Microsoft is said to be infringing (two patents used to display H.264 video). The ruling is suspended as of now because of a restraining order, the effect in the rest of the EU and U.S. if the ban is enforced if the restraining order is lifted, is unclear."
This could go into effect as soon as May 7th, pending the result of the next U.S. case hearing.
Google has lowered itself to patent proxy wars (Score:2, Interesting)
In a surprising move, Motorola Mobility (which is to be taken over by Google), has won an injunction preventing the distribution of Windows 7 and the Xbox in Germany until Microsoft starts paying royalty fees for the patents
They are unhappy that Microsoft is, legally and reasonably, getting almost 1 billion an year from various other Android manufacturers because they are using Microsoft licensed technology. After Google acquired Motorola I've been sure and waiting for them to try to hit back at Microsoft and Apple. Motorola is good for Google because it acts as both proxy in patent wars (so that Google name itself doesn't get the damage) and because then Google can control the whole Android infrastructure from the OS to devices.
It is no wonder that other Android vendors have been worried about Google's plans. At least Microsoft strictly provides the OS for manufacturers to use. Google has its own hardware manufacturer too. If I ran a smart phone making company I would never use Android as Google just can't be trusted. At least use MeeGo or something similar open, or license WP7 from Microsoft. You can also always create your own OS.
Doesn't mean jack (Score:5, Interesting)
Seriously, ponder for a moment what would happen if Nebraska decided to ban MS products. Well? Right. People from Nebraska wanting MS products will buy them outside Nebraska.
It's not much different for the EU.
Re:Google has lowered itself to patent proxy wars (Score:2, Interesting)
Maybe Slashdot needs to make an update to the posting algorithm:
You may not respond directly to a story unless your karma is excellent. You can respond to other posts, but never to a story.
What I want to know is... (Score:4, Interesting)
how a court ruling in a US court has any bearing on the German legal system and why the German legal system (and whichever authorities are responsible for enforcing the decision by the German judge) has to even care what the US court said and cant just say "screw the US, we are going to enforce the ban starting right now"
Or is there some sort of international treaty that applies here?
Re:Google has lowered itself to patent proxy wars (Score:2, Interesting)
How about no ACs, no super-new accounts (newest 2%?) and no non-excellent-karma accounts in the first 5 replies to a story? Then newbies wouldn't be forced into top-posting, but trolls still couldn't get in the first word.