Google’s Motorola Files New Case Against Apple ⇥ bloomberg.com

Susan Decker reports for Bloomberg:

Google Inc.’s Motorola Mobility unit said it filed a new patent-infringement case against Apple Inc. claiming that features on some Apple devices, including the Siri voice-recognition program, infringe its patents.

The complaint at the U.S. International Trade Commission claims infringement of seven Motorola Mobility patents on features including location reminders, e-mail notification and phone/video players, Motorola Mobility said today. The case seeks a ban on U.S. imports of devices including the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers.

Just as Apple v. Samsung wraps up, Google sued Apple. This is happening, and it’s going to be messy. I’d be very surprised if all of this nonsense doesn’t spark some change in the way technology patents are issued, and how their licensing must be conducted.

Update: Neither Motorola nor the Trade Commission have confirmed which patents are at stake. Based on what Bloomberg is reporting, however, I would make an educated guess that the following are potential candidates:

• 5,604,788: “Wireless messaging system with electronic mail replication”
• 8,004,555: “Methods and devices for simultaneous dual camera video telephony”

In addition, Motorola Mobility has a lot of patents related to voice recognition and voice control. Siri could be in violation of any of these.

Finally, a patent for location-based information has been applied-for, but not granted yet. This seems to be related to their claims, but as it hasn’t been granted, it cannot be used in the suit.

Of course, the mysterious Kontra summarized this news the best:

Google: We don’t believe in patents, they kill innovation.

Google to Samsung: Stop copying Apple so much.

Google to Apple: You’re sued.

I sincerely hope this leads to patent reform. It this doesn’t, nothing will.