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BT sues Google in Android patent dispute(Guardian (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BT is claiming billions of dollars of damages from Google in a lawsuit filed in the US that says the Android operating system infringes a number of its key patents. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware, relates to six patents, which BT says are infringed by the Google Maps, Google Music, location-based advertising and Android Market products on Android. If successful, Google or mobile handset makers could have to pay BT royalties on each Android handset. Android is the most successful smartphone platform in the world, with its handsets accounting for more than 40% of sales. Google recently said more than 500,000 Android devices are activated every day. BT's move - which could be repeated in mainland Europe - means Google is fending off lawsuits against Android from six publicly traded companies, according to Florian Muller, an independent expert. BT joins Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, eBay and Gemalto, a digital security company. A Google spokesman said: "We believe these claims are without merit, and we will defend vigorously against them." Muller said: "Android already had more than enough intellectual problems anyway. Now Google faces one more large organisation that believes its rights are infringed. BT probably wants to continue to be able to do business with all mobile device makers and therefore decided to sue Google itself." (c) 2011 Guardian Newspapers Limited. |