German court sides with Motorola, says it didn't violate Microsoft patent (updated)

[ ](http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/05/german-court-sides-with-motorola/)

Perhaps it's not as loud or high profile as [Apple vs. Samsung](http://www.engadget.com/tag/apple,samsung,patent), but there is another patent war raging that is no less vicious between Motorola and Microsoft. The two have been at each others' throats for a few years now and, while Google has offered an [olive branch](http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/motorola-withdraws-recent-itc-complaint-against-apple/) or [two](http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/28/apple-strikes-licensing-deal-with-motorola-in-germany/) to Apple, we've yet to see a similar gesture made in Redmond's direction. The latest chapter in this saga sees the regional court in Mannheim handing Moto a victory in a complaint filed by Microsoft over a patent relating to a set of mobile phone APIs. Its a rare bright spot for the new Google subsidiary, which has struggled to score legal points both in Germany in the US. Microsoft has [scored](http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/itc-bans-motorola-mobile-devices-for-infringing-microsoft-patent/) [several](http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/20/microsoft-wins-third-injunction-motorola-software-patent/) [injunctions](http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/27/microsoft-vs-motorola-decision-sees-droids-banned-in-germany-ov/) [against](http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/microsoft-motorola-sms-patent-germany/) Motorola products, while the [lone ban](http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/german-court-grants-motorola-injunction/) awarded to the phone manufacturer remains [unenforceable](http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/28/us-appeals-court-rules-motorola-cant-enforce-injunction-against/) pending a breach of contract lawsuit. For a bit more detail dig into the more coverage link.

**Update**: Microsoft's VP and Deputy General Counsel, David Howard, just issued this statement in response to the ruling.

> _This decision does not impact multiple injunctions Microsoft has already been awarded and has enforced against Motorola products in Germany. It remains that Motorola is broadly infringing Microsoft's intellectual property, and we hope it will join the vast majority of Android device makers by licensing Microsoft's patents. _

Filed under: [Mobile](http://www.engadget.com/category/mobile/), [Microsoft](http://www.engadget.com/category/microsoft/), [Google](http://www.engadget.com/category/google/)

[German court sides with Motorola, says it didn't violate Microsoft patent (updated)](http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/05/german-court-sides-with-motorola/) originally appeared on [Engadget](http://www.engadget.com) on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:37:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds](http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).

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