Judge rules in favor of Microsoft on patent infringement case

U.S. International Trade Commission Judge David Shaw sided with Microsoft which cleared Microsoft of infringing Google patents with Xbox.

The events in a nutshell leading up to this ruling start with; Microsoft filing a patent suit against Motorola in October 2010, Microsoft then also filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission asking for imports of the offending product into the USA to be banned.

In November 2010, Motorola filed a counter suit citing multiple patents allegedly infringed on by Microsoft.

The one paragraph notice concerning final initial remand determination states that the violation of the Tarriff act has not occurred.

Matt Kallman a spokesperson for Google stated: “We are disappointed with today’s determination, and look forward to hearing the Commission’s full review.” These findings are subject to review by a six member review commission, which can block imports that infringe on any U.S. patents.

Google does have the right to petition that commission in order to overrule the judge’s findings and potentially impose an import ban.

Microsoft on the other hand was happy with the outcome of the ruling. David Howard, corporate vice president, and deputy general counsel made this public statement: “We are pleased with the Administrative Law Judge’s finding that Microsoft did not violate Motorola’s patent and are confident that this determination will be affirmed by the Commission. The ITC has already terminated its investigation on the other four patents originally asserted by Motorola against Microsoft.”