Instead of reducing prices, innovation and development of technology in general, manufacturers of electronic devices in recent years often resort to other tactics to combat competition: presenting a company claims of violations of various patents.
Motorola accuses Microsoft of unlawful use of standard fundamental patents in the field of wireless data transfer and streaming video. In particular, intellectual property, Motorola has been applied to the game console Xbox 360 and tablet Surface.
According to Reuters , Motorola, requires from Microsoft a cash consideration of $ 4 billion annually, based on the calculations, according to which the software giant to gain up to $ 94 billion in sales of these devices by 2017.
Defensively, Microsoft accused Motorola of deliberately inflating the cost of licensing patents, and, consequently, violating the law (the basic patent holder is obliged to issue a license on the base of market principles and without discrimination). Therefore, instead of the $ 4 billion Microsoft is ready to give his opponent $ 1 million annually.
The court must determine how to calculate the remuneration: based on sales of specific products, or taking into account the value of technology in general. The decision on this case will set a precedent that will affect not only the authority of Motorola (and Google) and the value of its patent portfolio, but also in other litigation between manufacturers of electronics, which addressed the issue of infringement of intellectual property.