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U.S. Judge Expresses Frustration at Apple's and Google's Use of Litigation as 'Business Strategy'

Thursday April 11, 2013 8:29 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Bloomberg reports on comments from a U.S. District Court judge in Miami chastising Apple and Google for engaging in patent lawsuits as part of a broader business strategy rather than focusing on resolution of the disputes. The judge is currently overseeing a legal dispute that began with an initial complaint by Motorola Mobility in late 2010 and was expanded in January 2012 with the approval of Google, which had agreed to acquire Motorola several months earlier.
“The parties have no interest in efficiently and expeditiously resolving this dispute; they instead are using this and similar litigation worldwide as a business strategy that appears to have no end,” U.S. District Judge Robert Scola in Miami said in an order dated yesterday. “That is not a proper use of this court.”
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Scola went on to blast the companies' "obstreperous and cantankerous conduct" in refusing to streamline the 12 patents and over 180 claims currently involved in the lawsuit.
“Without a hint of irony, the parties now ask the court to mop up a mess they made by holding a hearing to reduce the size and complexity of the case,” he wrote. “The court declines this invitation.”
Scola has given Apple and Google four months in which to streamline the case on their own before he puts the case on hold.

[ 100 comments ]


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Oletros
80 months ago
A wise judge
Rating: 45 Votes
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phillipduran
80 months ago
Whoa! Whoa there Judge. Common sense has no place in today's judicial process.
Rating: 23 Votes
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maxosx
80 months ago

If you can't innovate; litigate.


I'm still disappointed that Jobs lost it, and chose the juvenile rant. Going "thermonuclear" is a tantrum that forever taints his legacy. Shameful.
Rating: 19 Votes
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pixelpro
80 months ago
What, so they now don't want corporations to use the Legal system, and duke it out Mafia style? Its the Legal and patent system that needs fixing, not the other way round.
Rating: 11 Votes
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WiiDSmoker
80 months ago
If you can't innovate; litigate.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Joe-Diver
80 months ago
obstreperous

Must start using this....
Rating: 10 Votes
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Truffy
80 months ago
I agree with the judge. It's about time these spoiled brats grew up. The only winners are lawyers.
Rating: 8 Votes
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batmccoy
80 months ago
It only takes one company to send two to court

If a competitor is willing to create a product that they know violates patents—they are asking to go to court. If a competitor decides to sue you, you must go to court. That sounds like normal use of the system to me.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Limboistik
80 months ago
It blows my mind how anyone can excuse the companies' rights to litigation upon infringement.

If someone copies your idea, it's ok to let it slide?
Rating: 8 Votes
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Peace
80 months ago
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't this start out as a Motorola lawsuit against Apple claiming infringement on FRAND patents ?

So don't go bashing Apple. Instead the government should start looking at Google for abusing the FRAND patents in lawsuits.
Rating: 7 Votes

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