Microsoft has filed a formal compliant with European Commission against the Motorola Mobility for alleged abuse of the important patents.
Dave Heiner, the Deputy General Counsel of Microsoft said on Wednesday in a blog post that Motorola was attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, Xbox game consoles as well as other Microsoft products. The news arrives just after a week Apple brought similar complaint Motorola Mobility.
The complaints focus around the licensing of important patents. Essential patents like as those needed for 3G, GSM or video standard H.264, are those required for the products to operate according to developed industry standards. These were explained by industry leaders in order to let companies to build the compatible products.
As it is important for all the market players, standard-setting organizations need the holders of standard essential patents in order to license them to any interested third parties on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms . The EU also expects to strict adherence to the principles of FRAND.
Several of these essential patents are held by Motorola, including H.264 codec and promised to make them available under the FRAND terms. But according to Heiner, “Motorola has broken its promise.”
The Commission has not confirmed whether it will launch a formal investigation, but with such a high-profile complain it is likely that formal proceedings might be considered.
