Motorola Breaks Through Apple's FRAND Defense in Germany

[btarunr]

In a development that threatens to prevent Apple's European sales arm from selling 3G-enabled iPad and iPhone products, Motorola Mobility won an injunction against it in Germany. On the table was a key Motorola patent related to cellular data transmission, which is part of wireless data transmission standards that are obstructed by an agreement to license it on "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory" (FRAND) terms.

Motorola claimed that Apple was infringing this patent, to which, Apple responded by putting up a FRAND defense (counter-accusing the patent-holder of not being fair/reasonable/non-discriminatory with licensing a patent that makes up an industry standard. The court ruling in Germany stated that raising a FRAND defense against standards-essential patent infringement claims could be a difficult proposition, and may force Apple to accept Motorola's licensing terms-FRAND or not-for "past infringement." Apple won similar FRAND defenses against Samsung, in the past, in other European countries such as The Netherlands and France.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Damn_Smooth]

I'm starting to feel a little bad for Apple. Their constant patent trolling has turned around and bit them in the ass hard.

 

[xenocide]

I'm starting to feel a little bad for Apple. Their constant patent trolling has turned around and bit them in the ass hard.

That's like feeling bad for RAMBUS, you just don't do it. They are going to\are getting what they deserve.

 

[de.das.dude]

I'm starting to feel a little bad for Apple. Their constant patent trolling has turned around and bit them in the ass hard.

i would have said bit them in the balls. but they dont have any. LOL

 

[DannibusX]

Could Apple product get any more expensive?

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

 

[NC37]

Could Apple product get any more expensive?

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

Could people protest the expense and stop buying?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[DannibusX]

Is that a Darth Vader style no?

 

[cdawall]

Aww poor apple sounds like they got what's coming to them.

 

[Sasqui]

Aww poor apple sounds like they got what's coming to them.

No kidding... "They started it!"

Apple is now going after HTC for copycat reasons, it was in the news this morning and no patents were even mentioned.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I think Apple needs to adapt the Goolge montra: "Don't be evil."

As far as corporations are concerned, launching frivilous lawsuit after lawsuit at competitors is about the maximum of evilness possible.

 

[treehouse]

seeing as how google now owns motorola, this is major win for google/android