Google attacks Apple, Microsoft over patent battle

Google has attacked Silicon Valley giants Microsoft, Apple and Oracle by name in a new blog post that accuses them of ganging up on other companies to exhort their power with patents, as the intellectual property battle within the tech sector continues to escalate.

The post comes just days after Samsung was forced to delay the launch of its Galaxy 10.1 tablet device in Australia after Apple argued the company was infringing on some of its patents relating to touchscreen technology.

Experts say as the tech sector grows, more companies are now using patents in order to stifle competition. However, critics say that many of these patents cover design aspects that are too general and will inevitably show up in most smartphones, tablets and websites.

Google senior vice president and chief legal officer David Drummond wrote overnight that because Microsoft and Apple have been fighting against each other for so long, “when they get into bed together you have to start wondering what’s going on”.

“But Android’s success has yielded something else: a hostile, organised campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents.”

At the heart of this blog post is the patent bidding war sparked by Nortel. The company sold off its old patents, which prompted a group of companies, including Microsoft and Apple – which called itself the “Rockstar” consortium – to team up and pay billions for the intellectual property loot. Google bid nearly $US1 billion, and has accused the final price of being overvalued.

As a result Microsoft and Apple are now seeking licensing fees for Android devices, and according to Google are “attempting to make it more expensive for phone manufacturers to license Android”.

“A smartphone might involve as many as 250,000 (largely questionable) patent claims, and our competitors want to impose a ‘tax’ for these dubious patents that makes Android devices more expensive for consumers.”

Google hints that Apple and its allies may even draw regulatory scrutiny, and points to previous reports the Department of Justice is doing just that. Analysts are concerned that Microsoft and Apple could use those patents to stifle competition unfairly.

“We’re not naive; technology is a tough and ever-changing industry and we work very hard to stay focused on our own business and make better products.”

“But in this instance we thought it was important to speak out and make it clear that we’re determined to preserve Android as a competitive choice for consumers, by stopping those who are trying to strangle it.”

Google warns that unless it acts, consumers could face higher costs for Android devices.

The warning comes as a trove of patent lawsuits are currently occurring in the United States and around the world. Apple recently won a lawsuit against manufacturer HTC, which Google has said it will continue to defend, while the tech giant has squared off against Samsung locally and in the US as well.

However, critics have scorned Google. Daring Fireball blogger John Gruber has posted in his own blog, which regularly breaks news regarding Apple and the tech industry, that Google shouldn’t attack companies for trying to do the same thing they were.

“Google supporters claim that Google only wants to use patents defensively. But what exactly does Google need to defend against, if not patents Android actually violates?”

“How is Google’s argument here different than simply demanding that Apple, Microsoft, Oracle, et al should simply sit back and let Google do whatever it wants with Android, regardless of the patents they hold? And, let’s not forget, give Android away for free.”