Eric Schmidt Finds it 'Curious' That Apple Only Sues Android OEMs instead of Google

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In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Google's Chairman, Eric Schmidt had several interesting things to say about the state of the tech world. He finds it "curious" that Apple has chosen to only sue Android OEMs instead of challenging Google directly, perhaps implying that Apple only picks on companies that do not have the financial power and legal clout to fight back. He implied that this was bad for the industry because it's bad for innovation. He shared the following example when asked about the "the endgame of all of this patent litigation,"

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It'll continue for a while. Google is doing fine. Apple is doing fine. Let me tell you the loser here.

There's a young [Android co-founder] Andy Rubin trying to form a new version of Danger [the smartphone company Mr. Rubin co-founded before Android]. How is he or she going to be able to get the patent coverage necessary to offer version one of their product? That's the real consequence of this.

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He also was disappointed that Apple chose to ditch Google Maps, and didn't understand why they took YouTube off their homescreens.

In terms of industry competition, Mr. Schmidt offered up his opinion that there are really only the "Gang of Four" big players in consumer technology anymore. They are Google, Apple, Amazon Inc. and Facebook Inc., which conspicuously leaves Microsoft out of the picture. In fact, when talking about Microsoft's new Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 Platform, he said, "I have not used it, but I think that Microsoft has not emerged as a trendsetter in this new model yet."

That's a friendly way of saying that Microsoft's day in the sun might be over. What do you think? Does he have things pegged pretty well?

Source: WSJ via Engadget

Not really off topic...did older iPhones have a notification bar? Noticed iPhone 5 does. If this is the case, can all OEMs running android sue apple....individually? Wouldn't that be fun.... :)

I think the Google purchase of Motorola Mobility gave them IP (Intellectual Property) that Apple had to bow down to. If I remember correctly there were meetings between Google and Apple CEO's a couple of months ago that likely resulted in a truce.

After all, Motorola had the transmission techniques patented 20 years ago and I'm sure every carrier is using them to this day.

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Originally Posted by bruben7886

Not really off topic...did older iPhones have a notification bar? Noticed iPhone 5 does. If this is the case, can all OEMs running android sue apple....individually? Wouldn't that be fun.... :)

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dude don't u know apple phone 5 has notifications... let's make a commercial lol... but really it is new... to them... just like multi tasking... started w their newer software upgrades

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Because Apple's a bully; they never pick on somebody their own size :nerd:

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Originally Posted by sweeeeet

dude don't u know apple phone 5 has notifications... let's make a commercial lol... but really it is new... to them... just like multi tasking... started w their newer software upgrades

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

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There are a few things Apple has copied from Google. Even the panorama photo capture that Apple has the commercial for was first seen in the ICS.

That said, Android is Open source. Companies use ideas from it all the time; they even use the whole thing. To the best of my knowledge, anyone can utilize Android, but the members of Open Handset Alliance have to abide by certain rules to preserve the integrity of the product. There is a reason why Samsung, HTC and others have to release there code for thier phones to the public.

I think the Only way Apple changes their business model is if the government decides to deal with this Patent stuff once and for all with an overhaul of the system to properly handle intellectually property.

They can get more money that way. My guess is that Apple can't sue Google and then get money for every android phone sold. Maybe the NEXUS line, but if they went after Samsung, HTC, etc. they can get a lot more money that way.

Apple won't sue Google for one of many big reasons, one of them being that Android is open source and Google doesn't make money off of Android so therefore there are no real physical numbers money wise to go after. Which is why Apple goes after the device makers instead.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD

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Originally Posted by macpro88

Apple won't sue Google for one of many big reasons, one of them being that Android is open source and Google doesn't make money off of Android so therefore there are no real physical numbers money wise to go after. Which is why Apple goes after the device makers instead.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD

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well... not directly

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Originally Posted by 52brandon

well... not directly

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which is why its hard to come up with a number to sue them for, they don't make a direct profit off of it like Apple does off of its stuff or like what Samsung makes off of its stuff.

They don't sell (liscence) Android to the manufacturers to use with their devices, therefore no direct profit.