Motorola Retaliates Against Microsoft Patent Suit

Let the legal mud-wrestling commence.

Motorola Mobility is taking Microsoft to court in a suit filed with the U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of Florida and the Western District of Wisconsin alleging infringement of sixteen patents by Microsoft's PC and Server software, Windows mobile software and Xbox products.

Motorola claims that it has patents that are used in the Windows OS, digital video coding, email technology including Exchange, Messenger and Outlook, Windows Live instant messaging and object oriented software architecture. That's not all though, as there are also Motorola patent objections directed to Windows mobile software relate to Windows Marketplace and Bing maps, as well as even on the Xbox side as it relates to digital video coding, WiFi technology, and graphical passwords.

Motorola Mobility has requested that Microsoft cease using Motorola's patented technology and provide compensation for Microsoft's past infringement.

Of course, this legal spat could have started when Microsoft shot first. Last month Microsoft sued Motorola over patents relating to Android features such as synchronizing email, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.

Kirk Dailey, corporate vice president of intellectual property at Motorola Mobility, noted that Microsoft also has filed separate patent infringement litigation against Motorola. "It is unfortunate," he said, "that Microsoft has chosen the litigation path rather than entering into comprehensive licensing negotiations, as Motorola has mutually beneficial licensing relationships with the great majority of technology companies industry-wide."