Apple Suspends iCloud/MobileMe Push Email in Germany Due to Lawsuit

icloud icon textAs noted by Engadget, Apple has informed customers that Push email service has been suspended for iCloud and MobileMe customers in Germany due to successful patent litigation by Motorola Mobility.

Affected customers will still receive iCloud and MobileMe email, but new messages will be downloaded to their devices when the Mail app is opened, or when their device periodically fetches new messages as configured in iOS Settings. Push email service on desktop computers, laptop computers, and the web is unaffected, as is service from other providers such as Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.

Mail services are otherwise available for both iCloud and MobileMe, but mail must be fetched manually or at a certain interval of time.

Motorola won the injunction in early February, and was able to enforce it by posting a 100 million euro bond. Apple is appealing the decision and Motorola may be liable for some amount of damages if it is later overturned. Apple states in the support document that it believes Motorola's patent is invalid and is appealing the decision.

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...

Top Rated Comments

arn Avatar
180 months ago
Yeah, why don't just sue Google over their Google Sync Push Mail too?

Cause Google owns Motorola now?

arn
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KnightWRX Avatar
180 months ago
Live by litigation, die by litigation.

Unfortunately, it can't go both ways. Apple can't sue everyone else, play industry victim to "copying" and "only enforcing the right to defend its own IP" and then not suffer the consequences when they violate someone else's IP. Apple isn't the only IP owner in the world.

This is why patents have forever been a MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) type weapon. You bring them out in defense of yourself, not in offense against competitors. Otherwise, you get the situation we're in now.

And don't get me wrong, Motorola, Google, Apple, Nokia, Kodak, RIM, Microsoft, name the corporation, I don't care whether they win or lose. In the end, the true loser is the consumer, us.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KnightWRX Avatar
180 months ago
Really? Seriously, I didn't know that.

Really : http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/kodak-wins-again-over-apple-rim-in-itc-patent-ruling/51776

----------

And there you discovered the entire "reason" for this lawsuit.

Google's thugs strike again.

The lawsuit was filed prior to the acquisition. And to call Google thugs after Apple's actions against Samsung and others these last years is quite ridiculous. They're all thugs, and the consumer is the victim.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macphin Avatar
180 months ago
stop this **** already
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rmwebs Avatar
180 months ago
And there you discovered the entire "reason" for this lawsuit.

Google's thugs strike again.

Yeah because Apple never bullies other companies :rolleyes:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Matt-M Avatar
180 months ago
I live in Germany, and I am signed up to iCloud, but I have not been contacted in any way by Apple to let me know about this, which is a bit annoying. If I were to rely on iCloud for business, I'd be genuinely pissed.

They probably emailed it to you, but it didn't get pushed to your phone. :)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)