Complaint filed by Motorola to ITC puts Apple under the looking glass

The Apple patent wars are a bittersweet time in the mobile tech community. This is especially true for fans of HTC, Samsung, or Motorola. Usually, iOS and Android fans dish out some good-natured ribbing to each other and call it a day. Since the patent wars began, however, each side has faced the possibility that their favorite OS might not be around for much longer.

This had made things a little more tense. Apple and various manufacturers have been trading blows for quite some time now. We all remember the one billion USD Apple won from Samsung and there was the lesser known victory for HTC in the UK. Now, it's Motorola's turn.

We've been covering the Apple v Motorola battle of 2012 and it has been an ugly one. Both companies are accusing one another of infringing on a number of patents. Worse yet, they're doing it in a number of countries. The latest step forward in the patent battle is the ITC will now investigate Apple based on complaints filed by Motorola. In short, Motorola cried wolf and the ITC is checking it out.

ITC will be investigating Apple for 7 patents that Motorola holds. According to FOSS Patents, they include:

U.S. Patent No. 5,883,580 on “geographic-temporal significant messaging”
U.S. Patent No. 5,922,047 on an “apparatus, method and system for multimedia control and communication”
U.S. Patent No. 6,425,002 on an “apparatus and method for handling dispatching messages for various applications of a communication device”
U.S. Patent No, 6,493,673 on a “markup language for interactive services and methods thereof”
U.S. Patent No. 6,983,370 on a “system for providing continuity between messaging clients and method therefor”
U.S. Patent No. 7,007,064 on a “method and apparatus for obtaining and managing wirelessly communicated content”
U.S. Patent No. 7,383,983 on a “system and method for managing content between devices in various domains”

If you'd like more info on each patent, the links in the list will take you to the official filing.

So what happens next?

The next step will be the ITC determining if Motorola has a case. If so, then we could see iOS devices banned from sale for the first time. For many in the Android camp, this will be a serious win. For those in the Apple camp, that's going to hurt quite a bit. At least until the iPhone 5 launch.

Thus, the next step in the Motorola v Apple patent war has taken place. People in camp Android and camp iOS are hoping that their side wins. There is something to consider. If Apple gets what it wants, there will be no more Android phones. If the Android manufacturers get what they want, there will be no more iPhones.

If both sides manage to win, that'll leave smartphone consumers with Windows and Blackberry devices as the mobile front runners. You know, like it was back in 2005. What's the definition of progress again? Tell your thoughts in the comments.

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Comments

SitooterieEnmity

$!http://goo.gl/W9OCe
- http://twitter.com/_KID_ANDROID_ KID ANDROID
  
  What the hell does that have to do with anything ?
KJY2010

Apple started this rediculous war, because they’d much rather litigate than innovate, and that piece of junk they’re calling the IPhone 5 is living proof that Apple has absolutely nothing new to contribute to the”smartphone” platform.
- salmanhero
  
  exactly agree with ur thoughts
- Scorpineo
  
  You’re preaching to the choir.
  
  Apple’s high stock price puts them in a powerful and favored position with the folks who control mainstream media. Courts are supposed to be unbiased but since juries and judges are human, that’s impossible.
  
  Want to stop this war? Hit Apple’s sales numbers. Their marketing team does a great job of exaggerating the truth, but you can only stretch it so far before it breaks.
  
  When it does and their stock prices starts reversing its trend, they will lose their dominant bully position in the courts.
http://twitter.com/_KID_ANDROID_ KID ANDROID

I said it before & Ill say it again, crApple has signed the companys own death certificate messing with Google which owns Motorola. Who invented the cell phone ? Oh thats right Motorola, so youd think that Google must have aquired patents that make the cell phone possible, Why would crApple mess with Google knowing this, well because crApple has their heads so far up their butts that they think they are untouchable & I think they believe their own bullsh*t. Im amazed at how many lies are coming out of crApple dedicated blogs/websites claiming the iPhone 5 is more powerful & feature packed then the Galaxy S3 which is complete & utter crap. I cant wait to see real benchmarks when its released. That & all the complaints that are going to come out about having to buy all new accessories that have a dock because with the new adapter being so large the iPhone 5 will not sit properly at all in old docks. Most iPhone users have more money than brains so it might not be as much of_ an issue. – KID ANDROID
Cesar Marte

The iPhone 5 was nothing innovating, not a blockbuster, so what is Apple thinking here, they cant be innovating to one-up Android, which seems to get better and better as they go along, better phones, faster, better tech and then we have to put up with this nonsense!?? Let the consumers decide, let the numbers tell the Judges what we want, its obvious! smh! these patents are ridiculous!
ogtomasx

Go GOOGLE destroy them in court for what they did to SAMSUNG, all apple does is cry after they ran out of ideas GET A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE you punks….!!!! iPhone 5 is a total disrespect to apple lovers nothing new same cra*p agaiin just longer if you have an iphone just wait for iOS 6 update and BOOM you have an iphone 5……. Understand apple that you are no more the best GOOGLE gives you more for your money…..
imhotepXXII

We all come here to read about Android but this is just link baiting. You are taking advantage of the feud between the Apple and Android camps to get clicks. FOSS patents clearly states that the investigation (which comes before any ban) will likely conclude sometime in 2014. You article makes it sound like a ban could come any second. Stop fanning the flames and stop omitting facts.
gils001

To me it’s not about one camp winning or losing. I just want the companies to calm down and get back to making new shit.
- http://twitter.com/PoorCollegeGuy Joe Hindy
  
  That’s my stance. I’m not an iPhone fan by any means, but their releases keep Android on their toes. How are Android OEMs supposed to know what to beat if Apple stops making stuff? It’s an ecosystem, if one part goes down, everyone suffers…even if its Apple.
  
  Without competition, Android will end up just like iOS is now: a bunch of menial upgrades year to year because they’ll have all the market share and nothing that compares to it. (except maybe one day Windows 8 phones).
  - CurDutch
    
    Completely agree with both of you!
salmanhero

my all best wishes are with motorolla may moto win amin, and apple should loose this time because its a curse company, and does not deserve to be in the world of smartphones may android win amin
arnieswap

Will you guys not link to that Microsoft consultant which fools the media in the name of FOSSPatents? Please try to ignore that troll who is paid my Microsoft to spin anti-Android story. Nice story.