NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] In Android Patent War, Microsoft Channels Al Capone
In Android Patent War, Microsoft Channels Al Capone
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000898.html
As we watch the U.S. still deep in economic turmoil, there are many
fingers pointing in various directions trying to assign blame.
Clearly one primary aspect of what has now become a systemic failure
of the U.S. economy, is the trend over recent decades toward making
money through whatever (usually legal, but frequently unethical)
schemes seem possible, rather than as a natural benefit of building
useful products and providing quality services.
Wall Street and the insurance industries, with the support of their
political minions in Congress and elsewhere, are masters at this evil
game, and contributed mightily to pulling our country -- and the rest
of the world -- to the brink of global depression. The puppet-masters
of these plans bask in ever increasing luxury, while many of the rest
of us can't even afford basic medical care.
But beyond Wall Street per se, the patent wars are another example of
how our economy has gone terribly wrong.
Patents were created as a means to encourage innovation and
production, not as a handy mechanism for protection rackets and
extortion. These are strong words, but the dictionary definitions
seem to fit the way some players in this realm are behaving.
The battles over smartphone patents and Android are an obvious
example. There are two main reasons for buying patents in bulk. One
is to attack other entities and to try to wring money out of them.
The other is to try protect yourself from such attacks.
There are light-years of difference between how Microsoft and Google
have approached this area.
Google hasn't been running around demanding vast patent-related
payments related to Android. Google appears to have purchased patents
in this space not just to help protect itself from patent-related
attacks, but to also help protect Android developers and consumers
from the unwarranted penalties and costs associated with patent
extortion.
Microsoft, on the other hand, has reverted "true to form" -- back to
the same kind of nasty sensibilities and shenanigans that had it
forcing monopolistic contracts on PC manufacturers relating to the
Windows OS on a take it or leave it basis.
And Microsoft still maintains much of their ingratiating "frat boy"
attitude as well.
Microsoft's lead corporate communications spokesman initially
responded yesterday to Google's complaints (regarding a new predatory
patent licensing agreement with Samsung) by characterizing Google's
statement as "Waaaah." ( http://j.mp/ofdGK9 [Twitter] )
In a followup tweet he then referred to Microsoft's official blog
statement regarding the agreement, which invokes the ghosts of Old
Chicago (unfortunately, an increasingly familiar set of ghosts these
days).
Its title -- "Our Licensing Deal with Samsung: How IP Drives
Innovation and Collaboration" -- is Orwellian "doublespeak" aplenty --
given that these sorts of agreements result from fears of bloodthirsty
patent holders wielding patents like weapons to block innovation
( http://j.mp/n2i7AP [Microsoft on the Issues] ).
This line from Microsoft's posting is of special note: "To them, we
say this: look at today's announcement. If industry leaders such as
Samsung and HTC can enter into these agreements, doesn't this provide
a clear path forward?"
In other words, "Everyone else in the neighborhood is paying us so --
ya' know -- so, nothing, uh *bad* will happen to 'em. If you
know what's good for ya', you'll see the clear path forward so that,
uh, you don't suffer any unfortunate, uh, *accidents* or whatnot.
Somewhere in the great beyond, the spirit of Al Capone is smiling, and
nodding his head in recognition. "Hey, those Microsoft boys are my
kind of people!"
*Capice?*
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com