Skyhook is suing Google. You really should read the whole piece at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Skyhook-Sues-Google-for-Interference-Patent-Infringement-745676/, but here's a few key paragraphs:
"Skyhook Wireless, a maker of software that helps determine the location of cell phones, filed separate patent infringement and tortious interference lawsuits against rival Google. Skyhook's software enables cell towers, GPS technologies and WiFi location databases to talk to each other to help pinpoint the location of a mobile device, such as a smartphone. Google makes similar technology for its location-based services such as Google Maps and Google Latitude. ... In the interference suit, filed in Massachusetts Superior Court, Skyhook claimed Google costs it tens of millions of dollars by trying to cut in on its contract with Motorola, which makes smartphones that leverage location services. Motorola, which makes and sells smartphones based on Google's Android operating system, agreed to use Skyhook's XPS location technology in April. When Google Vice President of Engineering Andy Rubin learned of this, according to the suit, he called Motorola Co-CEO Sanjay Jha to impose a "stop ship" order, preventing Motorola from shipping Android wireless devices featuring Skyhook's XPS software. Rubin claimed that using XPS in Android phones would make them incompatible. Motorola ended up shipping its Motorola Droid X smartphone in mid-July using Google's location software instead of the Skyhook XPS technology." & then, in the court filings, we have this: "Google’s established practice in determining Android compliance consists of two steps. The first step requires each Android-enabled device, and its embedded software, to be run against the Compatibility Test Suite (CTS), a software-based test platform that objectively evaluates whether the device and software are compatible with the published Android specifications. The second step involves a review of the device and software based on an amorphous outline of additional, non-standardized requirements known as the Compliance Definition Document (CDD). This entirely subjective review, conducted solely by Google employees with ultimate authority to interpret the scope and meaning of the CDD as they see fit, effectively gives Google the ability to arbitrarily deem any software, feature or function “non-compatible” with the CDD." Please read the whole thing: http://daringfireball.net/2010/09/the_welcome_to_android I'm not saying Google is a saint, & I'm not saying they're the Devil. But this isn't good, & it does make me laugh at both "Don't be evil" AND "Android is open". Scott -- R. Scott Granneman [email protected] ~ www.granneman.com ~ granneman.tel Full list of publications @ http://www.granneman.com/publications My new book: Google Apps Deciphered @ http://www.granneman.com/books "If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome; if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent; if you believe the military, nothing is safe." ---Lord Salisbury -- Central West End Linux Users Group (via Google Groups) Main page: http://www.cwelug.org To post: [email protected] To subscribe: [email protected] To unsubscribe: [email protected] More options: http://groups.google.com/group/cwelug
