Microsoft has been using similar FRAND patents from MPLA to prevent Linux
from having media play for fifteen years, selling their exclusive right as a
feature. Now that Google has bought Motorola Mobility, Microsoft are hoist on
their own petard. Microsoft must give up Media Center integration, and media
play entirely in Windows 8 until you download stuff.
These Google guys are
brilliant. They might get Microsoft to pay for blunting their own spear at the
same time they impale them on it. Video codecs are just the beginning.
Apparently Motorola invented the cellular phone both on the handset side
and on the tower side, and Google now owns all of those patents as well
as many derived therefrom. You seriously can't design a mobile phone, or wifi
device, without taking a license from Motorola Mobility in some way.
This is
much better than just putting out a better standard with VP8 from Google's
acquisition of ON2 and winning in the market. That though is a good bet for the
long haul. At this point I'm thinking the purchase of ON2 was a feint. [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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