Microsoft’s Xbox did not infringe Google patent, judge rules

Google-owned Motorola Mobility went after Microsoft over a patent involving the Xbox, and administrative law judge David P. Shaw has ruled in Microsoft’s favor.
U.S. Patent Number 6,069,896 describes a technology that allows devices to communicate wirelessly over short distances. Microsoft was, to no surprise, “pleased with the administrative law judge’s finding,” while Google said it looks forward to the ITC’s final decision which will take place in July.
In the meantime, Google has the chance to petition the International Trade Commission over the judge’s ruling and impose an import ban on the Xbox. Back in 2010, Motorola filed a complaint that accused Microsoft of infringing five different patents. Four of those patents have since been dropped. In fact, two patents regarding video-decoding were dropped by Motorola after Google reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission.
That agreement promises that Google will not pursue sales bans based on infringement of standard essential patents (FRAND), patents which are, well, essential to devices. We’ll have to wait until July to see what the final decision is between both tech giants. However, with several patents being dropped in the past and the judge ruling in favor of Microsoft, it’s not looking like Google will be getting the decision it hopes for.