Over 750 Pages of Google Documents Released by Court in Skyhook Wireless Lawsuit
Skyhook Wireless’ lawsuit against Google alleging business interference and patent infringement has resulted in the release of over 750 pages of documentation detailing the Google’s tactics in controlling its open platform. The documents reveal that each Android license has an expiration date, but also that Google has many unique agreements with hardware makers. Also shown is how tightly Google maintains control over its own proprietary apps, which are responsible for much of Android platform’s value.
In order for a device to get a license for apps, it must meet the Android Compatibility Definition and pass the Android Compatibility Test Suite. The core issue of the lawsuit is how Google determine what passes the test. Skyhook claims that Google acts anti-competitively by using the threat of incompatibility. The licenses that Google issues for Android allow Google to change the compatibility definitions and tests at any time. There is nothing to keep Google from changing these parameters to keep a device off the market.
In addition, if hardware makers were to ship devices that didn’t have Google’s apps, then the maker would automatically be in violation of its contracts with carriers. An example of this would be Google’s threat to block Motorola’s Droid X phone because Motorola had contracted with Skyhook for the location data service. The legal filings from Skyhook contain emails from Google executives about the partnership between Skyhook and Motorola.
In May of last year, Google told Motorola that using Skyhook’s location service would end up contaminating Google’s own location database. Motorola verified that Skyhook had indeed passed the compatibility test for Android, but Google issued an order to stop ship, which made Motorola pull Skyhook off the Droid X. However, before Motorola could start shipping the new Droid X, Samsung delivered the Galaxy S smartphone that had Skyhook’s location service. Motorola complained to Google because it was not acceptable to limit the company’s ability to compete.
In August of last year, Motorola terminated the contract it had with Skyhook, saying that the company couldn’t deliver a product that could be used on Motorola’s Android products. Skyhook filed suit against Google for business interference. It’s very similar to the case that Microsoft was involved in the 90s over their unremoveable Internet Explorer browsers.
1 Comments on "Over 750 Pages of Google Documents Released by Court in Skyhook Wireless Lawsuit"
Yeah, where can the rest of us see these documents?