Get 40% Off
🚨 Volatile Markets? Find Hidden Gems for Serious Outperformance
Find Stocks Now

BT Sues Google Android Over Patent Infringement

Published 12/19/2011, 08:38 AM
Updated 05/14/2017, 06:45 AM

British Telecom has sued Google's Android mobile operating system, as it believes that the software infringes six patents in its Maps, Music and Android Market applications.

The lawsuit also claims that Android's location-based advertising also infringes on patents held by BT and the telecom giant is claiming billions of dollars of compensation.

"BT brings this action to recover the just compensation it is owed and to prevent Google from continuing to benefit from BT's inventions without authorization," the lawsuit says.

BT has joined a growing number of large companies who are currently in legal disputes with Google and its Android software; Apple, Oracle, Microsoft and eBay are all in on-going battles over patent infringement.

The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in America, but it is not yet known if BT plans to commence legal proceedings against Android in Europe as well.

If the lawsuit is successful then it could mean that Google will have to pay BT royalties on each Android smartphone and tablet currently in use, and for any they produce in the future.

This could be incredibly costly for Google, as its Android system controls more than 40 percent of the smartphone market, with more than 40 million devices being produced every quarter.

The late Steve Jobs was famously outraged at Android, which he believed had stolen many patents and ideas from Apple and its iOS operating system used by the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Jobs is quoted in his biography by Walter Isaacson as saying: "I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermo-nuclear war on this.

"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong."

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.