Google backs off patent complaint against Apple

Google-owned Motorola Mobility withdrew a patent complaint filed with a US commission but remained quiet Tuesday as to the reason for the legal ceasefire.

Motorola Mobility reserved the right to renew its case and said that no agreements had been worked out between the companies, according to paperwork filed Monday with the US International Trade Commission (ITC).

The ITC had indicated it planned to investigate the Motorola claim that Apple had infringed on more than a half-dozen patents involving technology for e-mail alerts, voice controls, video and other features.

The smartphone and tablet computing era is rife with patent battles, many pitting Apple against competitors who are building devices powered by Google-backed Android software.

In a massive US court victory, a California jury declared on August 24 that South Korean electronics giant Samsung should pay Apple $1.049 billion in damages for illegally copying iPhone and iPad features in Android gadgets.

The verdict is being appealed.

In May, Google closed its $12.5 billion deal for Motorola Mobility, a key manufacturer of smartphones and holder of patents for the California Internet titan's legal arsenal.

(c) 2012 AFP