Google lobs antitrust complaint against Microsoft, Nokia in EU, claims they're playing patent footsie

[![European Union flags][1] ][2]

The gloves just came off at Google: the company has just filed an antitrust complaint with the [European Commission][3] against Microsoft and Nokia. Its gripe accuses the two Windows Phone partners of playing dirty pool through handing 1,200 wireless-related patents to Mosaid, a Canadian firm which spends most of its time [suing the industry over WiFi][4] rather than making products. Microsoft and Nokia are allegedly hiking the prices of devices by "creating patent trolls" that bypass deals preventing them from suing directly, possibly steering a few companies towards picking Windows Phone instead of Android.

Google argues that it's launching the complaint as an early defensive measure. Neither Microsoft nor Nokia has responded, although there's a degree of irony to the action: the complaints assert that Nokia is jeopardizing standards-based patents, but Google's [recent acquisition][5] Motorola has itself [come under EU scrutiny][6] for possibly abusing standards with its lawsuits against Apple and Microsoft. Either way, it's clear Google is concerned that Microsoft's [Android patent licensing campaign][7] might lose its decorum in the near future.

[Google lobs antitrust complaint against Microsoft, Nokia in EU, claims they're playing patent footsie][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][8] on Thu, 31 May 2012 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][9].

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[4]: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/mosaid-gets-into-wifi-patent-game-sues-17-companies-including-d/
[5]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/google-officially-closes-deal-for-motorola-mobility/
[6]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/motorola-europe-patent-abuse/
[7]: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-and-samsung-sitting-in-a-tree-patent-s-h-a-r-i-n-g/
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