Motorola and Apple are currently at loggerheads not only in the technology market, but also in the courtroom. This battle is over a lawsuit filed by Motorola against Apple Inc. The German court that is hearing this case recently gave Motorola a formal order of prohibition against Apple. This would mean that Motorola has the right to stop Apple from selling products in Europe that violate Motorola’s patents directly.
Motorola, however, seems to be looking to do something less drastic. They are considering collecting only licensing fees from Apple for all the products that carry their patented intellectual property, and obviously fine them for all the violations they have carried out since 2003. Motorola’s official statement attempts to convey the message that they realise how important their technology is to the other manufacturers and they only want to see the world market ‘converge’ and hence they want to get done with this case soon. They also look to provide this technology to the consumers as elaborately as possible, not compromising on their creations’ security.
Apple, on the other hand, has spoken of this injunction in a press release as a minor procedural issue and does not consider this a danger to its sales in Europe. Motorola has filed a lawsuit against the German Apple division and Apple Inc as well. Some analysts feel, given that Apple Inc does not seem too bothered; it is with that idea that the press release has been dispatched. Only the German division of Apple is bothered with this case currently, ergo the injunction notice slapped on Apple by Motorola doesn’t mean much yet in the larger picture.
Another counter opinion is that if Apple Inc lost their case and their right to sell in Germany, then that would mean that German Apple cannot be supplied by Apple Inc, hence the loss could affect Apple significantly if this line of thought prevails.
