Motorola has lost a court case against Microsoft to ban the sale of Xbox 360 consoles in the US, with a patent dispute ongoing this week, regarding an infringement of Motorola Mobility's video coding and playback patents.
Despite a US court ruling earlier in the year that Microsoft had infringed said patents, Motorola pursued the chance to ban imports of Xbox 360 consoles in the US and other territories. The BBC reports that Judge James Robart has now ruled that the patents are 'Frand-type' innovations, meaning that no one company can claim outright ownership as they're vital to industry standards.
Consequently, the judge confirmed that while a ban cannot be issued, Microsoft must pay outstanding fees to Motorola. The ruling reflects a similar decision made earlier this year, in which Motorola hoped to enforce a ban on Xbox 360 hardware in Germany.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/182818/Motorola_denied_Xbox_360_ban_in_the_US.
Despite a US court ruling earlier in the year that Microsoft had infringed said patents, Motorola pursued the chance to ban imports of Xbox 360 consoles in the US and other territories. The BBC reports that Judge James Robart has now ruled that the patents are 'Frand-type' innovations, meaning that no one company can claim outright ownership as they're vital to industry standards.
Consequently, the judge confirmed that while a ban cannot be issued, Microsoft must pay outstanding fees to Motorola. The ruling reflects a similar decision made earlier this year, in which Motorola hoped to enforce a ban on Xbox 360 hardware in Germany.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/182818/Motorola_denied_Xbox_360_ban_in_the_US.
