U.S. Judge Expresses Frustration at Apple's and Google's Use of Litigation as 'Business Strategy'

MacRumors · Apr 11, 2013, 10:29 AM

Bloomberg reports on comments from a U.S. District Court judge in Miami chastising Apple and Google for engaging in patent lawsuits as part of a broader business strategy rather than focusing on resolution of the disputes. The judge is currently overseeing a legal dispute that began with an initial complaint by Motorola Mobility in late 2010 and was expanded in January 2012 with the approval of Google, which had agreed to acquire Motorola several months earlier.

Quote:

"The parties have no interest in efficiently and expeditiously resolving this dispute; they instead are using this and similar litigation worldwide as a business strategy that appears to have no end," U.S. District Judge Robert Scola in Miami said in an order dated yesterday. "That is not a proper use of this court."

Scola went on to blast the companies' "obstreperous and cantankerous conduct" in refusing to streamline the 12 patents and over 180 claims currently involved in the lawsuit.

Quote:

"Without a hint of irony, the parties now ask the court to mop up a mess they made by holding a hearing to reduce the size and complexity of the case," he wrote. "The court declines this invitation."

Scola has given Apple and Google four months in which to streamline the case on their own before he puts the case on hold.

Article Link: U.S. Judge Expresses Frustration at Apple's and Google's Use of Litigation as 'Business Strategy'

Oletros · Apr 11, 2013, 10:30 AM

A wise judge

pixelpro · Apr 11, 2013, 10:30 AM

What, so they now don't want corporations to use the Legal system, and duke it out Mafia style? Its the Legal and patent system that needs fixing, not the other way round.

TallGuy1970 · Apr 11, 2013, 10:31 AM

AMEN!!!! Well said!

BornAgainMac · Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM

I wonder if that Judge visits this site a lot.

phillipduran · Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM

Whoa! Whoa there Judge. Common sense has no place in today's judicial process.

WiiDSmoker · Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM

If you can't innovate; litigate.

SJism23 · Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM

It's a shame that they can't work things out and a joke how the courts are used.

Here's hoping it'll change.

malofx · Apr 11, 2013, 10:35 AM

I'm impressed.

Joe-Diver · Apr 11, 2013, 10:35 AM

obstreperous

Must start using this....

Squilly · Apr 11, 2013, 10:35 AM

That's a lot of wasted $ spent on lawyers, even if it is a "business strategy"

Gauntlet999 · Apr 11, 2013, 10:36 AM

Funny how they've filed in Miami, about as far away from Silicon Valley and probably one of the least technology savvy areas in the country...

If they get kicked out of that court, hello North Dakota!

Truffy · Apr 11, 2013, 10:37 AM

I agree with the judge. It's about time these spoiled brats grew up. The only winners are lawyers.

Peace · Apr 11, 2013, 10:43 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't this start out as a Motorola lawsuit against Apple claiming infringement on FRAND patents ?

So don't go bashing Apple. Instead the government should start looking at Google for abusing the FRAND patents in lawsuits.

maxosx · Apr 11, 2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiiDSmoker

If you can't innovate; litigate.

I'm still disappointed that Jobs lost it, and chose the juvenile rant. Going "thermonuclear" is a tantrum that forever taints his legacy. Shameful.

bedifferent · Apr 11, 2013, 10:46 AM

Someone in the legal system telling it like it is, finally.

batmccoy · 02:48 PM

If a competitor is willing to create a product that they know violates patents—they are asking to go to court. If a competitor decides to sue you, you must go to court. That sounds like normal use of the system to me.

maflynn · Apr 11, 2013, 10:48 AM

While I agree, the companies are taking advantage of the rights afforded them. They're no different then any other corporation using the legal system to their advantage.

Oletros · Apr 11, 2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batmccoy

It a competitor is willing to create a product that they know violates patents

Who knows that they are violating other's patents?

liavman · Apr 11, 2013, 10:50 AM

For some reason, I like this judge.

Limboistik · Apr 11, 2013, 10:52 AM

It blows my mind how anyone can excuse the companies' rights to litigation upon infringement.

If someone copies your idea, it's ok to let it slide?

paul4339 · Apr 11, 2013, 10:52 AM

My bet is that the case will be put on hold because parties will not be able narrow things down. In this (Florida) case it's because it's in Apple's interest to hold things off.

.

newagemac · Apr 11, 2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peace

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't this start out as a Motorola lawsuit against Apple claiming infringement on FRAND patents ?

So don't go bashing Apple. Instead the government should start looking at Google for abusing the FRAND patents in lawsuits.

This case was brought about Motorola/Google and the judge is basically mostly bashing Google since they are the one suing. Not sure if anyone is bashing Apple specifically.

Tankmaze · Apr 11, 2013, 10:55 AM

Don't hate the players, but hate the game. I'm not supporting this type of patent lawsuit but there are lots of this companies (and patent trolls) using money and litigation to their advantage.

gri · Apr 11, 2013, 10:56 AM

Bravo! Need more of these guys. Some common sense.

Apr 11, 2013, 10:30 AM	#2
Oletros macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Premià de Mar	A wise judge __________________ There are four kinds of lies: Lies, damned lies, statistics, and analyst projections.
	45

Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM	#6
phillipduran macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iowa	Whoa! Whoa there Judge. Common sense has no place in today's judicial process. __________________ That's "Geniuses," not Genii, genius. To err, is PC.
	23

Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM	#7
WiiDSmoker macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hermitage, TN	If you can't innovate; litigate. __________________ Windows 7 64 \| FreeNAS 30 TB \| White iPhone 5 32GB \| TV 3 \| iPad 3 White 32GB
	10

Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM	#8
SJism23 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada	It's a shame that they can't work things out and a joke how the courts are used. Here's hoping it'll change. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro (early 2011), 2.0 GHz i7, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB HD; iPod touch 4, 32 GB; iPad 4, 32 GB
	2

Apr 11, 2013, 10:35 AM	#10
Joe-Diver macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2009	obstreperous Must start using this.... __________________ 24" iMac Aluminum; 17" uMBP (mid 09); 32Gb iPhone4;16Gb iPod Nano 6g Green; 2Gb iPod Shuffle 2g; ATv2
	10

Apr 11, 2013, 10:30 AM	#3
pixelpro macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2010	What, so they now don't want corporations to use the Legal system, and duke it out Mafia style? Its the Legal and patent system that needs fixing, not the other way round.
	11

Apr 11, 2013, 10:31 AM	#4
TallGuy1970 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2010	AMEN!!!! Well said!
	2

Apr 11, 2013, 10:33 AM	#5
BornAgainMac macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Resident	I wonder if that Judge visits this site a lot.
	2

Apr 11, 2013, 10:35 AM	#9
malofx macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2012	I'm impressed.
	2

Apr 11, 2013, 10:35 AM	#11
Squilly In Time-Out Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: PA	That's a lot of wasted $ spent on lawyers, even if it is a "business strategy"
	2

Apr 11, 2013, 10:36 AM	#12
Gauntlet999 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013	Miami? Funny how they've filed in Miami, about as far away from Silicon Valley and probably one of the least technology savvy areas in the country... If they get kicked out of that court, hello North Dakota!
	3

Apr 11, 2013, 10:37 AM	#13
Truffy macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2005 Location: somewhere outside your window...	I agree with the judge. It's about time these spoiled brats grew up. The only winners are lawyers. __________________ Too much stuff Not enough stuff
	8

Apr 11, 2013, 10:43 AM	#14
Peace macrumors P6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Space--The ONLY Frontier	Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't this start out as a Motorola lawsuit against Apple claiming infringement on FRAND patents ? So don't go bashing Apple. Instead the government should start looking at Google for abusing the FRAND patents in lawsuits.
	7

Apr 11, 2013, 10:46 AM	#16
bedifferent macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NY	Someone in the legal system telling it like it is, finally. __________________ Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Arthur C. Clarke
	2

Apr 11, 2013, 10:47 AM	#17
batmccoy macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2005	It only takes one company to send two to court If a competitor is willing to create a product that they know violates patents—they are asking to go to court. If a competitor decides to sue you, you must go to court. That sounds like normal use of the system to me. Last edited by batmccoy; Apr 11, 2013 at 02:48 PM.
	8

Apr 11, 2013, 10:48 AM	#18
maflynn Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boston	While I agree, the companies are taking advantage of the rights afforded them. They're no different then any other corporation using the legal system to their advantage. __________________ I know that I know nothing ~ Socrates
	3

Apr 11, 2013, 10:50 AM	#20
liavman macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2009	For some reason, I like this judge.
	0

Apr 11, 2013, 10:52 AM	#21
Limboistik macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2011	It blows my mind how anyone can excuse the companies' rights to litigation upon infringement. If someone copies your idea, it's ok to let it slide?
	8

Apr 11, 2013, 10:52 AM	#22
paul4339 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2009	My bet is that the case will be put on hold because parties will not be able narrow things down. In this (Florida) case it's because it's in Apple's interest to hold things off. .
	0

Apr 11, 2013, 10:55 AM	#24
Tankmaze macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2012	Don't hate the players, but hate the game. I'm not supporting this type of patent lawsuit but there are lots of this companies (and patent trolls) using money and litigation to their advantage. __________________ Check out our game Tank Maze
	2

Apr 11, 2013, 10:56 AM	#25
gri macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New York City, aka Big Apple	Bravo! Need more of these guys. Some common sense. __________________ 2.93 GHz MacPro 8 core, i7 2012 MBA; 2.7 Mac mini; iPhone 5, iPad 4 Brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.
	0

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