Google Found Guilty in Android / Linux Patent Case

Google Found Guilty in Android / Linux Patent Case: "

Google has been found guilty of patent infringement by a jury in Texas over use of the Linux kernel in its servers and Android smartphones. A firm called Bedrock Computer Technologies file the lawsuit, and won a $5 million fine from Google. Aside from the fine, the implications for Android down the line aren't clear. 'The implication here is really that there is a huge number of Linux users who will be required to pay royalties if this patent holder knocks on their doors in the US. This is definitely a major impediment to the growth of Linux and makes companies, including Google, that rely on open source code particularly vulnerable to patent threats,'said intellectual property activist Florian Mueller to the BBC News. Google, however, defended itself and said it will continue to do so as patent claims arise. In a statement, it said, 'The recent explosion in patent litigation is turning the world's information highway into a toll road, forcing companies to spend millions and millions of dollars defending old, questionable patent claims and wasting resources that would be much better spent investing in new technologies for users and creating jobs.'
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Source : Google Reader