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Motorola scores a permanent injunction against Apple’s iCloud in German Court
Motorola has just scored a pretty significant injunction against Apple’s iCloud, as a decision in its favor was handed down by judge Andreas Voss in a German court room. The “permanent injunction” forced the Cupertino-based company to remove most of its products from its German-based online store including the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 4 as well as any 3G-enabled iPads. Both companies have been in a patent battle for months, with Motorola getting the best of the iPhone maker so far. Lots of developments have occurred after this initial ruling, so lets … Read more
Charles West
EU antitrust investigation launched over Samsung’s use of mobile patents
The European Commission is beginning a formal investigation on Samsung’s use of its mobile patents. Specifically, the EU is trying to decide whether Samsung abuses some of the broad patents it holds to “distort competition in European mobile device markets, in breach of EU antitrust rules.” Basically, this will determine if Samsung uses patents to file lawsuits against other companies to kill off its competition or at least weaken it. The EU cites an example of one of Samsung’s lawsuits from 2011: Samsung sued mobile phone competitors in numerous courts … Read more
George Tinari
New law would require carriers to disclose tracking software like Carrier IQ
Software like Carrier IQ, which secretly logs every action you take on your smartphone, has been a topic of major controversy since its discovery last year. Carriers and manufacturers install it on many of their (primarily Android) handsets to troubleshoot their phones, but in some cases it goes a little too far. It seems the U.S. government has taken notice and legislation is being drafted in the House of Representatives that would require mobile companies to prominently disclose when they are invading the privacy of its users by utilizing tracking … Read more
George Tinari
European Commission greenlights Sony’s acquisition of Ericsson’s stake in Sony Ericsson
The European Commission has nothing against Sony’s acquisition of Ericsson’s stake in the joint-venture (Sony Ericsson). As far as Europeans are concerned, the Japanese giant can pay its former partner $1.05 billion and start selling its own branded phones on the old continent. Big transactions like these are always a subject to regulatory approval to protect the competition. Sony Ericsson is far from dominating the market, which at the moment sees such companies as Samsung, HTC, LG and Motorola competing for the users’ hearts, minds and ultimately wallets. The first … Read more
Dusan Belic
Cell phone users in North Korea to be punished as ‘war criminals’
The lifestyle of citizens in North Korea has been of major controversy in recent news, and now the government is revoking even more privileges from the country’s natives — privileges that affect the use of beloved mobile phones. In the 100-day mourning period after the death of former country leader Kim Jong-il, anyone caught using a cell phone will be punished as a “war criminal.” The ban is presumably to strengthen the power of new leader Kim Jong-un. It’s almost as if Jong-un wants to let his people know that … Read more
George Tinari
Motorola Mobility files lawsuit against Apple citing patent infringements
Motorola Mobility is suing Apple for infringing on six of its patents. The patents in question are related to wireless antennas, software, messaging, and data management — quite a bit of the entire experience of a smartphone is on the line here. Apple allegedly uses these patents in the iPhone 4S and iCloud. The lawsuit was filed in Florida today and it’s just the latest battle in the larger smartphone patent wars. “Apple’s infringing activities have caused and will continue to cause Motorola Mobility irreparable harm, for which it has … Read more
George Tinari
Apple loses appeal to block Samsung’s Galaxy tablets
Samsung got a victory its long legal battle against rival Apple over allegations of patent infringement in the Netherlands. A Dutch court rejected Apple’s appeal to stop Samsung from selling its Galaxy tablet in the country and this is huge because it opens the door for all Dutch subsidiaries to distribute the Tab throughout the European Union. The Dutch judge made the ruling after determining that the Galaxy tablet displayed more differences than what Apple led on, as the court compared the gadget’s thickness, screen icons and dotted lines with several … Read more
Charles West
EU to approve or deny Google’s Motorola Mobility acquisition by Feb. 13
The European Commission says it has set a deadline of Feb. 13, 2012 to decide whether or not to give its blessing for the acquisition of Motorola Mobility by Google. Google recently brought forth new documents — which are now under review by the EU — in support of the move, which will cost more than $12 billion. Had Google not brought these to the table, the original deadline for the EU’s decision was January 10th and we would have had known the acquisition’s fate by now. “We’re confident the … Read more
George Tinari
Redesigned Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0N Plus tablet headed for Germany
Samsung is releasing an alternative to its original Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 in Germany, after the line of tablets was banned from being sold in the country as a result of a long legal battle with Apple. Dubbed the Galaxy Tab 7.0N Plus, it has a redesign to reflect what Apple and the court considers valid and without infringement. The tweaked design of the Galaxy Tab 7.0N has more curved edges, a silver bezel particularly noticeable on the top and bottom, and conspicuous placement of the Samsung logo on the front. … Read more
George Tinari
Apple wants to ban creepy Steve Jobs doll
You might recall our report on the Steve Jobs collectible action figure set to hit shelves in February for $99. I called it “just plain creepy” and Apple doesn’t like it much either. Those Cupertino-based rebels reportedly threatened to sue Icons, the Chinese company behind the doll, if it goes on sale. According to Apple, any toy meant to depict the company logo or executives is a criminal offense. The action figure facing legal woes is a foot tall and featured the full Steve Jobs look: round glasses, black turtleneck, … Read more
George Tinari
Argentina bans iPhone, BlackBerry imports to support local production
In an attempt to rectify issues with Argentina’s economy, the South American country placed a temporary ban on imports of foreign-made electronics. Two of the most well-known of those electronics are the iPhone and BlackBerry devices. Apple and RIM collectively account for 60 percent of Argentina’s smartphone market, so the ban is going to have a substantial impact on its mobile industry. What about Android and Windows Phone? Neither of the operating systems nor the hardware manufacturers were affected because they — Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Microsoft, etc. — have manufacturing … Read more