Apple and Google's Motorola Unit Seeking Arbitration to Resolve Patent Dispute

[MacRumors]

Bloomberg reports that a new court filing in the ongoing patent dispute between Apple and Google's Motorola Mobility unit reveals that both sides are interested in using binding arbitration in order to resolve the issues related to standards-essential patents at a minimum, if not the entire dispute.

The companies have been exchanging proposals on using binding arbitration to reach a licensing agreement over patents that are essential to comply with industry standards on how phones operate. Such an agreement could lead to a global settlement of all of their patent disputes, Apple said in a filing yesterday.

"Apple is also interested in resolving its dispute with Motorola completely and agrees that arbitration may be the best vehicle to resolve the parties' dispute," Apple said in the filing.

Arbitration would avoid the need for a further protraction of the ongoing court cases, moving the dispute out of the courts and into the hands of a neutral third third party who would review evidence and render a decision that both parties would be legally obligated to accept.

The willingness to engage in arbitration is another sign that the mobile companies involved in a vast web of lawsuits may be seeking to wind down their confrontations, with Apple and HTC having announced a settlement in their dispute over the weekend. Apple's major foe is, however, still Samsung and it appears that there may be no settlement in sight for that dispute.

Article Link: Apple and Google's Motorola Unit Seeking Arbitration to Resolve Patent Dispute

[adztaylor]

Good, more talking less courtroom action.

[portishead]

Good. Hopefully Apple and Samsung can hug it out too. It's going to happen eventually I'm sure, hopefully soon.

[DarkWinter]

Less of the thermonuclear then, it would appear.

[maknik]

I can't believe Motorola still has that logo. Now that Google owns them, they've really got to replace the 50's bra with something a little more modern.

[olowott]

Good Stuff, get that out thy way and lets get back to innovation at its finest!!

[truettray]

I'm sick of the patent stories... and I'm not saying that against Macrumors. I'm just tired of these corporations being so ridiculous. Here's hoping that the end is in sight.

[Optheduim]

i am 100% all for defending your intellectual property. BUT good... I am so tired of reading legal disputes on this website

[ItsWelshy]

Originally Posted by portishead

Good. Hopefully Apple and Samsung can hug it out too. It's going to happen eventually I'm sure, hopefully soon.

I hope not. Android is a stolen OS, it would be disgusting if Google get away with this.

[Sy7ygy]

Originally Posted by truettray

I'm sick of the patent stories... and I'm not saying that against Macrumors. I'm just tired of these corporations being so ridiculous. Here's hoping that the end is in sight.

The only corporation that is ridiculous is Samsung.

God awful, distasteful company that the world would be a much better place without..

This isn't a 'fanboystic' approach; more personal through use of their dire products.

S

[camnchar]

Best news I've heard all year.

[Rocketman]

Frand issues are probably best settled by arbitration anyway. That will give both parties a dose of reality to clarify their thinking on non-Frand rights, which frankly they have every right to go nuclear on. However they all also know a settlement on those issues are a double edged sword. The clarity it brings will give incremental advantage to all included competitors to Apple, where now they are stuck in the mud to some degree. Hence why Steve used such extreme language on this issue. He has them "flummoxed'. Even in death.

Apple can totally afford the expense and drag of lawsuits, and so long as they have as much net profit as all other players combined they have no rational motivation to give.

So there may be an irrational motive. Less conflict. Or the competitor's willingness to pay Apple a license fee for every handset they produce. Either would be to their advantage to be sure almost no matter the cost.

Rocketman

[rjohnstone]

Originally Posted by ItsWelshy

I hope not. Android is a stolen OS, it would be disgusting if Google get away with this.

What???
Please stop with this "stolen" nonsense.
It's pure FUD.

Arbitration on contract negotiations is a good path and better than wasting court time.
Plus it doesn't get patents invalidated.

[Sy7ygy]

Originally Posted by rjohnstone

What???
Please stop with this "stolen" nonsense.

I wouldn't say stolen; but heavily influenced by iOS.

Google hide behind the manufacturers, don't be evil.

[Oletros]

Originally Posted by ItsWelshy

I hope not. Android is a stolen OS, it would be disgusting if Google get away with this.

And exactly what is stolen?

Originally Posted by Sy7ygy

Google hide behind the manufacturers, don't be evil.

How it hides behind the manufacturers?

And regarding the thread, it can be a good idea

[kockgunner]

If Windows Phone passes Apple in marketshare it would be well deserved. While Android does bring new things to the table, the past of how it is conceived will always leave a bad taste in my mouth. At least if Motorola settles with Apple following the footsteps of HTC, Samsung will be the odd one out and look foolish. Samsung is really gutsy to make it seem as if the concept of the modern smartphone was their idea and while continuing to take jabs at Apple.

[thekev]

Originally Posted by ItsWelshy

I hope not. Android is a stolen OS, it would be disgusting if Google get away with this.

Repeating it endlessly doesn't make it true. I have yet to see an example of what was truly stolen. It's a complex topic when it comes to the array of patent claims. You can't simply reduce that to a two line description.

[JS82712]

Originally Posted by thekev

Repeating it endlessly doesn't make it true. I have yet to see an example of what was truly stolen. It's a complex topic when it comes to the array of patent claims. You can't simply reduce that to a two line description.

I don't know about android being a stolen OS, but you certainly will shut up if i said Samsung copied apple.

[LastName]

First the iPad mini and now this... RIP, Steve. It's all gone wrong down here.

[duffman9000]

Originally Posted by maknik

I can't believe Motorola still has that logo. Now that Google owns then, they've really got to replace the 50's bra with something a little more modern.

Given how MOTOROLA is plastered all over their phones, I'd take that bra. Imagine if your iPhone had APPLE all over the place.

[you people smh]

Originally Posted by Sy7ygy

The only corporation that is ridiculous is Samsung.

God awful, distasteful company that the world would be a much better place without..

This isn't a 'fanboystic' approach; more personal through use of their dire products.

S

Let's see, if we go to your utopian world where samsung doesn't exist, we lose retina displays, ipads, iphones, ipod touches, etc...

[beaner454]

Originally Posted by LastName

First the iPad mini and now this... RIP, Steve. It's all gone wrong down here.

I'm so tired of this, Steve made mistakes and he also went back on his word. But we gave him the benefit of the doubt. Any time Tim does something than we think Steve would have done, we automatically get at least a handful of people claiming that Apple has lost its way.

Steve wasn't infallible, and just because Tim does something different doesn't make him wrong.

[ItsWelshy]

Originally Posted by you people smh

Let's see, if we go to your utopian world where samsung doesn't exist, we lose retina displays, ipads, iphones, ipod touches, etc...

Of course not, Apple would just find another monkey to make them.

[LastName]

Originally Posted by beaner454

I'm so tired of this, Steve made mistakes and he also went back on his word. But we gave him the benefit of the doubt. Any time Tim does something than we think Steve would have done, we automatically get at least a handful of people claiming that Apple has lost its way.

Steve wasn't infallible, and just because Tim does something different doesn't make him wrong.

Steve had vision, and that counts for a lot. Tim is excellent at his specialty, which isn't being a visionary.

[you people smh]

Originally Posted by ItsWelshy

Of course not, Apple would just find another monkey to make them.

Clearly, that's why they stopped doing business with this evil, hated company many years ago.....oh wait...