Android vendors have been hit hard by lawsuit after lawsuit from competitors. But in a show of strength, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt said today in Taiwan that his company will stand by those firms in any lawsuit.
"We tell our partners, including the ones here in Taiwan, we will support them," Schmidt told reporters today, according to Reuters. "For example, we have been supporting HTC in its dispute with Apple, because we think that the Apple thing is not correct."
HTC's troubles with Apple started last year, when the iPhone maker filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission, arguing that HTC's device violated 20 of its patents.
"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said in a statement at the time. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."
In response, HTC fired back with several lawsuits of its own against Apple, arguing that the iPhone violated patents that it held. In September, HTC upped the ante by suing Apple, using patents it had received from Google.
Although Schmidt argues that his company has stood by Android vendors, HTC's lawsuit using Google patents was arguably the first major step that the search giant took to help its partners. Previously, Google had taken a backseat to the lawsuits, possibly for fear of getting embroiled in a head-to-head court battle with Apple. That fear was stripped away earlier this year, however, after Google announced plans to acquire Motorola Mobility for US$12.5 billion. The deal is designed to provide Google with the patent protection that the company so desperately needs through Motorola's intellectual property.
But HTC isn't the only company facing trouble. Currently, Apple is suing Motorola Mobility and Samsung for patent infringement. Microsoft has taken aim at Barnes & Noble, and inked several licensing deals with other Android vendors. Even Google is being sued by Oracle over claims that Android violates Java-related patents.
So what should Android vendors expect from Google? According to Reuters, Schmidt said that his company is ready and willing to provide information, industry expertise and Google patents to help its partners.
But even with all of that protection, Google shouldn't expect Apple, especially, to go away. In Walter Isaacson's authorised Steve Jobs biography, the Apple co-founder said that he was willing to wage war to take down Android, and, considering his influence at the company, it's not a stretch to believe that its top management agrees.
"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank to right this wrong," Jobs told his biographer. "I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this."
Via CNET
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It really is a shame Jobs provided that statement. I admire the man HIGHLY for BRINGING TO MARKET ideas and products that have been smart, beautiful, and embraced by many. I am NOT an iOS device owner, choosing to go with the more open Android platform, but there is no doubt Jobs created a market that was not there by bringing something to the masses in a nice shiny package before others that made experts of novices in smartphone usage knowledge.
HAVING SAID THAT.
It is a sad state of affairs to scream IP at the top of your lungs, and "thermonuclear war". Really?
The original Mac OS was based on a project Steve saw at the Palo Alto Research Centre (Xerox). The concept of Windows and Mice were already well established. The iPhone is using technology developed by others. Some of which are not patentable (is that a word?) due to FRAND. Android was in development arguably BEFORE iOS or at least in parallel. Sure iPhone was created first but the concepts were already available in Android, just not packaged with hardware quite yet. iOS 5 uses the notification system Android has used almost since the beginning, and the "slide to unlock" feature Apple just won a patent for has been used on at least one touchscreen phone pre-dating the iPhone by at least 3 years (prior art argument).
This feels to me like calling the kettle black.
Seriously Apple - go back to innovation, not litigation.
With all due respect for a fallen hero though guys seriously. RIP Steve. The world will truly miss you. Never in my life have I felt such a loss for the industry.