#Patentfun from Oct 11 – 15

This past week hasn’t been a treasure trove of litigation
But let’s look at the few – and there’s some interesting twists in them too.

Thanks to all the various blogs for keeping up with the news, I’m just here to help try to put ‘em together.

• Amazon Kindle Fire under the gun already.  Acacia started off the patent trolling of the new device by claiming they have  a broad generic patent that’ll soak them for some cash.  Patent trolling defined.  Let’s hope it doesn’t go far.
• What is interesting as a follow up is that Amazon’s device is made by a company called Quanta, who just inked the licensing deal with Microsoft.
• Samsung selling SGS2 in Europe with some tweaks.  In response to some of the patents in question, Samsung tweaks their phones to allow the sales to continue.  Now this is for phones – tablets are another battle.  What’s the patent in question?  Well, not exactly clear as Sammy just says “technology” but according to TalkAndroid’s article it points to some ability to scroll through pictures.
• Samsung loses tablet battle in Australia to Apple.  After some delays and asks for proof, the decision has befallen on Samsung.  They lose the battle in the land down under now too.  Apparently having a touchscreen is too much like the iPad [I guess all that Fosters are getting to those Aussies]
• The decision still may have some issues, as one of the judges has concerns over the validity of the patent that Sammy is supposedly infringing upon [a touch screen]
• Blunder!  Samsung’s lawyers drop the ball and fail to distinguish between the iPad2 and the Galaxy Tab.  Derp!
• Larry Page is serious about Android.  It must be really hard to have built something that you hoped would help transform the market and offer choice and variety, all for free.  Then watch all your partners take up that challenge and produce some excellent equipment.  Then, the market loves it, and people enjoy the product and all is happy.  Then to watch these partners get picked at by the sullying competitors …  Well, Larry has said before that he will stand behind his partners and offer assistance [has given patents, and written in support, etc…]  During their Q3 earnings call, Larry had reiterated this statement again.  That they will protect the Android ecosystem and help their partners.  He again points to Microsoft for their leeching off of the ecosystem.  I don’t know what would be worse, to have someone like Microsoft try to bleed you slowly, or Apple to outright try to ban you — unfortunately for Android, they’re dealing with both!

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