Patents: Apple and Microsoft declared war on Google and Samsung

The Nortel case took a turn more than tight. The Rockstar consortium, composed among others by Apple and Microsoft, ask Google and its partners a fee on Android.

Some are already calling this confrontation of nuclear war so its impact could change the geography of global high-tech. For Rosckstar consortium of Apple, Microsoft, Ericsson, Sony and BlackBerry compound, there is no other way. And launching the attack on Halloween, the message is clear: go all the way!

The group decided to sue an equally powerful band since it is Google, Samsung, HTC and Huawei together. This new episode is crucial following the case of Nortel patents, Rockstar acquired in 2011 and which Android manufacturers and publishers still have not paid the license fee.

This is what explains certainly calls for Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google, to stop this war of patents it deems detrimental to innovation.

Indeed, given the number of Android devices that run on the planet, the addition could be costly for Google and its partners. The OS currently represents more than 80% market share.

A portfolio of $ 4.4 billion

Seven patents are particularly concerned with one that allows the targeting of advertisements based on research conducted by Internet users. This directly affects the Google ecosystem.

The Nortel case began two years ago when the Rockstar consortium has won the patent portfolio of the Canadian group in big financial trouble after auction supported by Google.Rockstar has finally won by putting $ 4.4 billion on the table when Nortel claimed that $ 900 million.

In missing this, Google had to buy Motorola for $ 12 billion in order to gain a portfolio of patents result.