01.12.13
Android-backing Ericsson Feeds Patent Aggressor Openwave
Summary: Thousands of patents passed from Ericsson to a now-notorious patent aggressor, Openwave
SONY Ericsson is not much as a friend of Android, despite using Android/Linux in its devices. Samsung was sued by Sony (over patents) after Sony had failed to gain the lead in the Android market. Samsung will do fine, but we cannot support it because it pays Microsoft for Linux.
“In one of the most dramatic, controversial and written about court cases, judge Koh has denied Apple’s motion for an injunction against Samsung devices,” we learn from Muktware, also in light of its recent realisation of Android armament (deterrence against Apple). Sadly, however, some Android arms seem to be heading into the hands of patent aggressors. To quote a new report:
Unwired Planet, formerly Openwave Systems, said in a regulatory filing today that it has received more than 1,900 patents, including 753 US patents, from Swedish telecom company Ericsson.
This is reminiscent of what Microsoft does with Nokia’s patent portfolio. It distributes patents to Linux and Android foes (MOSAID is the most notable example among several). We already covered the patent relationships of Microsoft, Apple, and Sony (some are members of the same patent cartels). █
Michael said,
January 12, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Samsung does not pay MS for Linux. They pay MS based on a agreement about Samsung using MS property.
mcinsand said,
January 13, 2013 at 3:01 pm
I think MS can see that their time is limited, which is why they are using extortion to cultivate a funding source. MS has been far more intelligent than Apple, in this regard, since the patents that they use for lawsuit threats are viewed only under conditions of nondisclosure (thank you, Barnes and Nobel, for breaking the silence and showing us these sad examples of ‘IP’). This isn’t an honest business, but a thug model, where MS collects protection money, and Quislings like Samsung pay it rather than go to trial. MS also uses proxies, which helps keep the emptiness of these patents at arms length.
Apple on the other hand has arrogantly done the dirty work themselves, and their public image has rightfully gotten quite tarnished. The Samsung trial showed, how empty Apple’s claims are, just how disconnected their patents are from actual innovation, and, through Velvin Hogan, how mentally dysfunctional you have to be in order to find for Apple.