Hey, you know that gaming console that Microsoft makes? Well, there’s a lot of technology inside those Xbox 360s that other companies hold the rights to. That means in order to manufacture the Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft has to pay royalty fees to those different companies. One such company is Motorola.
Motorola is responsible for the technology behind the Xbox 360’s wireless communication device; in other words: the wireless network capabilities that are now standard in the Xbox 360 S models. Motorola is also responsible for one of the video codecs used by the Xbox 360. Microsoft is not happy, and now they’re suing Motorola. For what?
Well, because according to Microsoft, Motorola’s royalty fees are too high. That’s right, Microsoft is bitching that Motorola is charging them too much to use their proprietary hardware and codec. Oh the irony! How much does Microsoft charge us, the end users, for their proprietary hardware? What about add-on hard disk drives for the Xbox 360? Yeah, thought so.
Still, perhaps Microsoft has a point, because they’re claiming that Motorola is charging them way more than other companies have been charged in the past. Of course, Motorola thinks otherwise and has said: “We worked with Microsoft to reach an agreement that would have allowed Microsoft to use our proprietary technologies without infringing Motorola’s patents.”
Motorola is claiming that that is not how Microsoft has seen it: “Unfortunately, despite a fair offer from Motorola, Microsoft was unwilling to enter into a licensing agreementâ€
Despite the fact that part of me relishes in Microsoft’s indignation at being overcharged for proprietary hardware, I kind of want them to win this case; I’ve loathed Motorola ever since I was dumb enough to buy one of their crappy E398 cell phones.
Last Updated: November 10, 2010
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 15:50
OH NOES MICROSOFT CALL OPRAH!
I think we should sue Microsoft for nickel and diming us.
NiteFenix
November 10, 2010 at 19:16
lmfao. Thanks for the joke Miklos. Funniest one I’ve read all day 😛
Nick de Bruyne
November 10, 2010 at 20:35
No but guys, the savings will get passed on to us! Really! :ermm:
Dreder
November 11, 2010 at 07:15
Unlikely…. Motorola have already countered, including quite a list of patent infringements.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/10/motorola-slaps-microsoft-with-a-pair-of-patent-infringement-laws/
So I guess it will be more a case of us paying for their legal fees?
NiteFenix
November 11, 2010 at 08:18
I wonder if they’ll make a game out of this.
Mortal Kombat. MS Vs. Motorola.
FIGHT!
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 11, 2010 at 09:47
Microsoft unleashes Legal Battle,
Motorola counters with a patent infringement attack,
It’s Super Effective!
:whistle: