Google and Motorola: Acquisition Begins with Microsoft Lawsuit

Arriving quite suddenly, the news of Google’s acquisition of Motorola dominated discussions mid-summer.
As always, beyond the intentionality of the act by the two corporate entities, the acquisition cannot be considered entirely complete until antitrust approval: to have everything ratified, we will likely have to wait until January 2012.
Usually, this is just a formality; in fact, for the hi-tech world, Google’s acquisition of Motorola is practically a done deal.
Microsoft is well aware of this and, apparently, has decided to file a lawsuit against not only Motorola at this point, but also Google as the new owner of the brand: the accusation concerns an alleged violation of seven patents used in certain functionalities of specific mobile phone models.
At stake is Microsoft‘s request to ban the sale of Motorola devices from American stores. A move that may seem impossible but could technically be feasible since Motorola phones are produced outside the United States and subsequently imported into the States.
Such a ruling would create a rather significant precedent for future legal actions, including in other sectors, brought by other companies.
A first hurdle for Google, which by acquiring Motorola, now holds over 12,000 patents from the mobile phone manufacturer: a significant advantage and much-needed boost for the already dynamic Android project.
Provided, of course, that Microsoft doesn’t impose further delays…