Apple vs Android Manfuactors vs Microsoft

[Tombradyhasamachinehead]

Why dosent apple go after Microsoft for there mobile Operating System, but yet they can go after android? Same with microsoft why dont they go after apple for Ios, but only go after android?

[KiwiNZ]

Because there is no reason to do so.

[leclerc65]

Because no one can afford two big wars at the same time.

[alphacrucis2]

Because no one can afford two big wars at the same time.

The suits would have done a cost benefit analysis on it.

[jwbrase]

Why dosent apple go after Microsoft for there mobile Operating System, but yet they can go after android? Same with microsoft why dont they go after apple for Ios, but only go after android?

Apple isn't suing MS because MS isn't a threat in the mobile market. Windows phone is bleeding market share.

MS isn't suing Apple because, first of all, while both Apple and Android are threats to it, Android is the bigger threat, and secondly, because it can attack Android by suing the manufacturers of individual phones, which might be less well prepared to defend against lawsuits than Google would be, while it could only attack Apple directly, since Apple puts out both iOS and the iPhone itself.

[David Andersson]

Why dosent apple go after Microsoft for there mobile Operating System, but yet they can go after android? Same with microsoft why dont they go after apple for Ios, but only go after android?

You don't go after someone with a portfolio of patents as big as yours, or bigger. It gets too messy. Patents have the same functions as cluster bombs. They hit at random. It is not the technical details of the patents that matters, but that you have a lot of them (and that you have a lot of lawyers). See http://www.forbes.com/asap/2002/0624/044.html "Too many patents are just as bad for society as too few" and http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=2011111122291296 "Barnes & Noble Exposes Microsoft's "Trivial" Patents and Strategy Against Android".

Google is building a patent portfolio. It has e.g. bought a lot of Motorola patents. See e.g. http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2011/08/15/google-motorola-its-all-about-the-patents/ "Google-Motorola: It’s All About the Patents"

[Linuxratty]

Because Microsoft has invested in Apple...Same as Google investing in Fire fox.

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-202143.html

[Mikeb85]

Why dosent apple go after Microsoft for there mobile Operating System, but yet they can go after android? Same with microsoft why dont they go after apple for Ios, but only go after android?

Because Microsoft had an OS powering cell phones before Apple did, because Microsoft didn't rip off iOS's look and 'feel' (no matter what anyone thinks of Metro, it's unique, and it screams Microsoft), and because Microsoft has so many software patents that there is no way Apple could ever survive a lawsuit vs. MS and come out unscathed... Besides, MS and Apple need each other in the PC space, so that neither could ever become a monopoly...

[MisterGaribaldi]

Given that so much of the Android source is out in the public domain, it is dead simple for Microsoft's folks to look at it directly and see if there's any dirty underwear present. There's no direct way for them or anyone else to do that with iOS. Also, it would require Microsoft to get a court to issue some kind of warrant or writ which would enable them to see Apple's source. I don't really think the California court system is too inclined to permit a fishing expedition like that.

As far as Microsoft and Apple duking it out in court, Apple has all kinds of financial reserves, and even if they got beat up a bit, they would be easily able to hit Microsoft, and hit them hard. It's not a fight I'll bet Microsoft really wants to get involved in. Besides, people aren't using iOS- and Android-based devices because they're a monopoly (like people use Windows because it's a monopoly) but rather iOS and Android have become an oligopoly because of user demand and freedom of choice.

People don't use Windows Mobile because, frankly, it sucks, and there's really no compelling reason to ignore that. I think about the only place that Windows Mobile has any kind of significant marketshare are on inventory scan guns and POS systems. So, to be fair, I doubt seriously any kind of lawsuit directed at Apple would change that. Besides, as has been pointed out above, Apple and Microsoft cross-license a portfolio of patents, so odds are Apple isn't in violation of anything.

As for Microsoft going after Android-based device makers, they're obviously doing this to try and do an end-run around Google, against whom I doubt they'd be able to prevail. Also, it really helps them (to some degree) engender what FUD they're able to, not that it's really going to amount to much since experientially most people know Android is a good, solid OS for their smart phone, whereas Linux is a totally unknown quantity for their desktop usage.

[georgelappies]

You don't go after someone with a portfolio of patents as big as yours, or bigger. It gets too messy. Patents have the same functions as cluster bombs. They hit at random. It is not the technical details of the patents that matters, but that you have a lot of them (and that you have a lot of lawyers). See http://www.forbes.com/asap/2002/0624/044.html "Too many patents are just as bad for society as too few" and http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=2011111122291296 "Barnes & Noble Exposes Microsoft's "Trivial" Patents and Strategy Against Android".

Google is building a patent portfolio. It has e.g. bought a lot of Motorola patents. See e.g. http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2011/08/15/google-motorola-its-all-about-the-patents/ "Google-Motorola: It’s All About the Patents"

Some interesting articles you linked to there. The sad state of patent craziness in USA... One would have thought that it would not be legal to patent the downright obvious :( All this does is stifles ingenuity and inventiveness...

It really is a sad state of affairs.

[Paqman]

Apple isn't suing MS because MS isn't a threat in the mobile market. Windows phone is bleeding market share.

MS isn't suing Apple because, first of all, while both Apple and Android are threats to it, Android is the bigger threat, and secondly, because it can attack Android by suing the manufacturers of individual phones, which might be less well prepared to defend against lawsuits than Google would be, while it could only attack Apple directly, since Apple puts out both iOS and the iPhone itself.

^All of this.

Suing MS over Windows Phone would be like kicking a man when he's down. The only two players doing well in mobile right now are Apple and Android, and Android is both the biggest threat and most vulnerable to attack.

[MisterGaribaldi]

Some interesting articles you linked to there. The sad state of patent craziness in USA... One would have thought that it would not be legal to patent the downright obvious :( All this does is stifles ingenuity and inventiveness...

It really is a sad state of affairs.

What George said. +1

[neu5eeCh]

....about the only place that Windows Mobile has any kind of significant marketshare are on inventory scan guns...

:lolflag:

Yeah, but those scan guns are going to look slick as all-get-out with Metro.

[Evil-Ernie]

Android is the biggest threat to Apple at the moment, also MS are launching Win8 later in the year that will influence what they will put onto phones. Why bother going after the current Windows phone when its more than likely going to change after October?

[rasmus91]

What George said. +1

I agree with that as well. But its because the Bereaucrats use the inventers and those with a passion for developing these things to earn money, and then they invest those money in more such people so they can get more money, and then they use their money to make sure no one else can make money of the things "their" inventers developed, not even by building something from that. but thats just the way the world functions.

and as to the question, from what I've heard microsoft owns like 51+% percent of the shares in Apple, so it would make less than little sense for apple to sue M$.

[Paqman]

from what I've heard microsoft owns like 51+% percent of the shares in Apple

It's more like under 1%.