Google is reportedly set to be sued by the Federal Trade Commission for trying to block competitors’ access to key smartphone-technology patents in violation of antitrust law. This isn’t Google’s first run-in with the FTC though, in June of 2011,  accusations of Google abusing its market leading position in search advertising were made. Investigation into whether Google’s own services get preferential treatment in web searches, thereby giving the company an unfair advantage were conducted.
This time, the issue at hand is Google’s efforts to block U.S. imports of products made by Microsoft and Apple by claiming the devices, which rely on industry-standard technology, infringe patents owned by Google’s Motorola Mobility unit. The FTC opened a formal probe into the matter in June, when it began seeking information from companies including Microsoft and Apple about whether Google offered licensing for technology under patents that help operate 3G wireless, Wi-Fi and video streaming on fair and reasonable terms. Two federal judges will consider arguments that Motorola Mobility breached its commitment to the industry groups to offer its standard-essential patents on fair terms. The first trial, involving Apple Inc.’s breach of contract claims against Motorola Mobility, begins Nov. 5th in Federal court in Madison, Wisconsin, while a non-jury trial of Microsoft’s claim against Motorola Mobility is scheduled to begin Nov. 1st in federal court in Seattle.
Source: Business Week
