wraggster
April 28th, 2011, 22:48
You're probably familiar with Microsoft's long running (http://slashdot.org/story/11/03/21/2014244/Microsoft-Continues-Android-Legal-Assault) assault on Android (http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/10/10/01/1936213/Microsoft-Sues-Motorola-Over-Android-Related-Patent-Infringement) but, as noticed by Groklaw, Barnes and Noble has fired back (http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20110427052238659)saying, 'Microsoft has asserted patents that extend only to arbitrary, outmoded, or non-essential design features, but uses these patents to demand that every manufacturer of an Android-based mobile device take a license from Microsoft and pay exorbitant licensing fees or face protracted and expensive patent infringement litigation.' Barnes and Noble goes on to assert that Microsoft violates 'antitrust laws, threatens competition for mobile device operating systems and is further evidence of Microsoft's efforts to dominate and control Android and other open source operating systems.' The PDF of the filing from two days ago (http://www.groklaw.net/pdf2/MSvB&Nanswer.pdf) is rife with accusations including, 'Microsoft intends to utilize its patents to control the activities of and extract fees from the designers, developers, and manufacturers of devices, including tablets, eReaders, and other mobile devices, that employ the Android Operating System.' and 'Microsoft has falsely and without justification asserted that its patents somehow provide it with the right to prohibit device manufacturers from employing new versions of the Android Operating System, or third party software.' Barnes and Noble does not mince words when explaining Microsoft's FUD campaign to both the public and developers in its attempts to suppress Android. It's good to see PJ still digging through massive court briefs to bring us the details on IP court battles."http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/04/28/039255/BampN-Responds-To-Microsofts-Android-Suit