An astonishing new battle has broken out in the Great Patent War, with documents emerging showing that British Telecom, the operator of most of the UK’s telephone network, has started a legal case against Google regarding possible misuse of patents.
And this isn’t just over Android. The BT claim covers patents it claims are also used in Google’s search results engine, in Google+, in Google Maps and Google Places. It is literally a bombshell thrust right down Google’s exhaust port.
According to the ever popular patent expert FOSS Patents, the case covers “willful and deliberate infringement” of BT patents by Google, and includes an injunction request stopping Google using the technology, should a court ever rule on the case in the distant future.
BT’s actual legal document is online here. The case is being filed in the US. This is like the Queen suing America. Or the Cuban Missile Crisis. The technological World War III.
Motorola’s latest flagship dual-core Android monster is a massive, original powerhouse, that’s a big improvement on previous MOTOBLUR mobiles – but still isn’t a total winner.
A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
Alvin
/ December 19, 2011Sadly, this isnt really out of character for BT. They previously claimed to have a patent on hyprrlinks.
http://eupat.ffii.org/patents/effects/hyperlink/
Vince
/ December 19, 2011those patents look like BS to me. GO die patent trolls.
Mark
/ December 19, 2011This patent war is getting out of hand, how BT expect to get a positive result out of this is beyond me.
MarkG
/ December 19, 2011How very lame of BT. It seems everyone thinks they deserve a bit of Googles success. The sign of a failing company.