In its ongoing patent case against Motorola Mobility in Germany, Microsoft Corp has now added Google as a second defendant. Motorola had earlier won a case in Germany against Microsoft over infringement of a patent which enables apps to work on different handsets
Microsoft alleges that Google’s Android Operating system is in infringement of some of its software patents, but surprisingly has targeted device manufacturers so far, for payment of its royalties, rather than Google itself.
The lawsuit, which marks the first time the two technology giants are set to face off, relates to the Google Maps app found on Motorola smartphones. While Motorola denies any infringement on its part, it was unable to specify how Google’s server infrastructure works, prompting Microsoft to add Google to the case.
Google has indicated that it would go ahead an defend itself in court. Quoting Google’s statement:
“We want to focus on innovation, not litigation, but we’ll vigorously defend against any amended complaint Microsoft files,” Google’s Deputy General Counsel Allen Lo said in an emailed statement.
Moto and Microsoft are already involved in multiple patent lawsuits in Germany and Seattle, which have been going on for quite some time now, over alleged patent infringements by both parties.