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590°

Motorola wins Xbox and Windows 7 ban in Germany

BBC News writes: "Motorola Mobility has been granted an injunction against the distribution of key Microsoft products in Germany.

The sales ban covers the Xbox 360 games console, Windows 7 system software, Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.

It follows a ruling that Microsoft had infringed two patents necessary to offer H.264 video coding and playback..."

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Community4790d ago
Paradicia4790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

Not much to this, Motorola can't enforce it and Microsoft will be appealing anyways. All the real action is going to be in the US proceedings.

Directly from the article: "A US court has banned Motorola from enforcing the action until it considers the matter next week."

Yep.

Edit: @ TCH CELL

Thanks for that pearl of wisdom.

RedDragan4790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

America has no jurisdiction in Europe, and thus Motorola can enact the ban with immediate effect if they wanted to and because of trade rules, America cannot punish Motorola in any way. Especially since Motorola has a European HQ set up in London which means Mr Obama carries as much influence as a squatted horse **** fly.

There is too much for America to lose to go up against Europe, America needs as much trade as possible and cannot afford any more trade embargo's to be placed upon it by the EU. There are too many of those already and it is hurting America more than Europe.

US Courts are powerless no matter what propaganda it is trying to create, they tried to stop Airbus and didn't work and then they tried to stop american airliners from paying the EU tax and that didn't work.

What makes you think Motorola will buck the trend and listen to the US Courts for this particular case when all other American companies before it stuck two fingers up at Washington and basically said "Europe said it is their land and their rules and we have to abide by it if we want to do business there, so we are doing it"?

And PS. They have already successfully applied the ban in Australia despite America saying no, America did nothing when Motorola enacted that ban there.

Montrealien4790d ago

This is not Aoronautics, this is stupid software patent infringment wars, an it needs to stop, not matter where in the world it is.

Kurylo3d4789d ago

"Motorola is prohibited from acting on today's decision, and our business in Germany will continue as usual while we appeal this decision and pursue the fundamental issue of Motorola's broken promise."

So no... microsoft isnt stopping yet.

pixelsword4789d ago (Edited 4789d ago )

I feel sorry for the players and users, not for any corporation whether it be Motorola or Microsoft.

Granted, some of the people who sued did it for bogus reasons and should be punished, but Sony and Microsoft have been rightly sued many times for blatantly ripping-off people's tech because they figure that it would be less expensive in the long run to steal and settle in court rather than pay up front like a legitimate business. I hate that because it's like some greedy bully beating up some weaker kid on a playground because he figures that the weak kid's very pricey lunch he steals now will be worth the weak payback called detention that he will receive later; that is if the bully can't talk his way out of it or if the bully shares some of the lunch with the principal (bribe, corporate "donations", etc.).

Meanwhile, the weak kid starves even though he rightly had a lunch...

BitbyDeath4789d ago (Edited 4789d ago )

"And PS. They have already successfully applied the ban in Australia despite America saying no, America did nothing when Motorola enacted that ban there."

Got a link to this? I live in Australia and this is news to me.

MadMen4789d ago

You obviously missed the boat reddragan;

READ** - Very key to articles FYI

"Motorola is prohibited from acting on today's decision, and our business in Germany will continue as usual while we appeal this decision and pursue the fundamental issue of Motorola's broken promise."

KMCROC544789d ago

Cause they still have asset on their home sole of America, so meaning thier are laws that can be enforced on them here in the states.besides i don't think Motorola would like to lose all the business they do with athletic teams here like say the NFL, MLB, colleges teams.

miyamoto4789d ago

Yeah, when Microsoft sued Samsung, HTC, Acer, Asus, and every smaller non-American tech Americans say its okay they deserve to be sued.
@ Montrealalien

Montrealien4789d ago

it's just as stupid axel, don't try to turn this into a childish MS vs Sony debate. Software patents suits are out of control, nuf said.

here, read up on it a little...

https://docs.google.com/vie...

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4789d ago
r1sh124790d ago

All of the 'IP wars' are getting stupid now.
Its literally become a free for all for lawsuits.
I mean look at apple and samsung.

The ban on motorola is only for the US, but companies are just buying up patents so they can sue someone who is infringing them.
Oracle Vs Google, this list is getting bigger by the day.
I think the term for it is 'IP squatting'

Although I think recently all the big tech giants signed up to some sort of fair play bill or treaty where they can continue to use the IP's in question under some regulation or use of licence or something.
I cant exactly remember but im sure google can tell you.

IaMs124789d ago

to stop this IP squatting, the buyer of the IP should show proof that it will be used, if they cannot, they shouldnt be able to buy it.

GamingPerson4789d ago ShowReplies(7)
honkyjesus4789d ago

Thank you for your pearl of wisdom/didn't read.

ChrisW4789d ago

MiLKJDO,

"Not much to this..."

Because the ban is only in Germany, where anyone can get anything banned. Just look at the iPhone and also the Samsung Galaxy Tablet situations. People go to German courts because it is easy to dupe the judges with out providing the actual product as proof.

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THC CELL4790d ago ShowReplies(3)
aviator1894790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

Honestly, I hope Europe finds Motorola abusing their FRAND patents this time, this is getting just ridiculous. Charging nearly 4bn dollars annually for FRAND patents, how could anyone have expected MS to actually comply with those terms.

Sure, they have to pay a dollar figure, but aren't FRAND patents under law to be charged with reasonable terms? 4bn annually does not sound reasonable to me.

Or just reform the damn patent system, it's getting to the point of beyond ridiculous now.

Letros4790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

Moto just posted another $85 m loss, desperate measures here, EU and DoJ will not allow them to exploit these FRAND patents, that was one of the terms Google had to agree to when purchasing them.

DivineHand1254789d ago

Microsoft was the first one to sue Motorola because they suspected that Motorola was charging them a much higher price than other companies.

http://kotaku.com/5686042/m...

Motorola then counter sued Microsoft because Microsoft was using the technology without paying for it. Hence the reason Motorola requested that the products that were using these Technology be banned until a settlement has been made.

http://kotaku.com/5717310/m...

Patriots_Pride4790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

The real corp to blame is Google - I know Steve Jobs got alot of hate becuase of Apple sueing everyone but what people do not realise is that Google started this sueing thing and Apple decided to play fire with fire.

I hope to god that the saying Google will one day rule the world does not come through.

glopez4790d ago

Guys, when people here complain about having to pay for Xbox live, what's the consensus? "If you don't like the price don't use the service!" Well Microsoft is just getting its due. Remember karma exists. What goes around comes around. Its just Microsoft's turn to pay up. If they don't like it, " don't use the service."

TheLyonKing4790d ago

Finally there is justice, I can't understand why microsoft thought it was above the law.

Fishy Fingers4790d ago

Finally there is justice? LOL... dramatics.

TheLyonKing4790d ago

Not really its very annoying when a company thinks it can dodge out on payments, I have no quells agaisnt microsoft but what they did was unreasonable.

TekoIie4790d ago

Motorala: dropping red, white and blue turds of JUSTIIIICE.

I will never get bored of American dad...

Fishy Fingers4790d ago

Sure they'll come to some sort of settlement, which, no doubt will hurt MSs pockets, but surely not to the tune of $4b.

RedDragan4790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

For a company that makes such huge profits, $4B is not all that unreasonable... people need to understand that Microsoft is lining it's pockets using Motorola technology.

So is it right for the technology owner to go backrupt while it's competitor gets a free ride because of FRAND? Should this scenario of Motorola going bust come to fruition it would show that there is something seriously flawed in the way FRAND works.

If I was making billions of someone else's technology I would still think it is right the technology holder be rewarded. Microsoft are just freeloading and nobody likes a freeloader.

EDIT: Looking at the disagree's it would appear Microsoft fans do agree with freeloading. What a shocking revelation that is!

aviator1894790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

Yes, well, FRAND patents should be licensed at a steady cost to all companies who wish to use the patent. Charging a ridiculous $4 bn annually while others get to pay a reasonable amount more in line with FRAND rules of charging reasonable terms is certainly not fair.

Besides, if Moto wins this one in the US, they surely will go after all others to attain larger fees from all, especially Apple. So, this case just isn't between Moto-Google and MS, it's Moto-Google vs Industry.

Whoa, I never said MS should get a free pass. MS have agreed to pay on reasonable terms. I simply stated that the amount Moto were asking for is such a ridiculous amount. Just because the licensee is able to afford such an amount doesn't give Moto the right to violate FRAND rules and ask others to comply with it.

LightofDarkness4790d ago (Edited 4790d ago )

This is just a case of a declining company desperately trying for cash-grabs. They know that if they can pick a fight with the big kids (MS, Apple) then no matter what the larger company does, it will appear that they are in the wrong.

Charging an exorbitant $4bn annually for licensing offered to other companies at a far reduced cost is crazy, and it was only done to put Motorola in this kind of position. It's not Microsoft fans disagreeing with you, it's everyone who isn't a Sony fan.

Plus, Moto may have just over-played their hand. This will be appealed and there's no way they're getting $4bn now.

Fishy Fingers4790d ago

"Microsoft is lining it's pockets using Motorola technology."

How are they profiting from it exactly? Other than skipping the licensing fee. $4b is roughly 20% of their net income, hardly "reasonable" that should go on a video codec. One we all use whether we know it or not.

Basically, I dont mean to sound rude, but you seem rather ill informed, frankly I think you just see this as MS potentially losing money and there for a good thing without any actual understanding.

Letros4790d ago

They will just not include the video codec on their products, Apple will be next...in the end hurting the consumer.

mewhy324789d ago

Here's yet another company jealous of Microsoft's success and wanting to bleed money from them. This will roll off Microsoft's shoulders and it'll be back to dominating the PC and Console market as usual until the next leach comes along. If anyone should be sued it should be Sony for shamelessly copying the wii-mote. Effectively HDWii. A class-action law suit from gamers who actually thought they could do whatever they wanted with the console the purchased with their money, only to be hunted down by Sony whey they tried to modify it. Or maybe Sony should be sued by the 75 million subscribers that got their account information released onto the web by hackers and didnt inform the users for days.

KMCROC544789d ago

if not that much then you pay it .

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40°

XBLA Classic 'A World of Keflings' Is Coming to Steam, and There's a Demo

"Back in the innocent days of 2010, A World of Keflings was a fairly popular successor to A Kingdom for Keflings. I even wrote about it a few times in 2012! But the world of humans moved on, and NinjaBee's city-building/adventure game was last seen on the ill-fated Wii U in 2014. Fast-forward to the dark year of 2025, and not only is A World of Keflings coming to Steam, but there's already a playable demo! Perhaps the cheerful, no pressure gameplay that the Keflings bring is just what we need nowadays," says Co-Optimus.

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220°

Phil Spencer Teases 2026 As A "Really Special Year" For Xbox

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and Phil Spencer has teased it as a "really special year" for the games division.

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TheEroica16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

You got downvotes by pathetic gamers for feeling hopeful about good games coming out next year. Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy? It is pretty neat to see people's world view blow up in front of them as they realize Microsoft has put themselves in a driver's seat that Sony hasn't been able to touch all generation.... What's even more pathetic is the same people downvoting you are the same people wishlisting Microsoft games on their ps5s 😂

P_Bomb13h ago

“Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy?”

My dude your post history shits on EVERYTHING. You never have a good thing to say about anything lol! 🤣

PanicMechanic4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

“Getting ready for those GaaS reveals! Sony is a shadow of themselves this gen.”

You literally said this a couple of days ago. Start applying the clown make up, you hypocritical jester

derek13h ago

Yep we'll see, they have alot releasing next year.

RaidenBlack10h ago

NGL, next year might be one of the best years in gaming ... starting off with RE9 and GTA VI ...
and then all the good games that's been cooking
Pragmata, Sands of Time, Saros, Gears E-Day, 007 First Light, Blood of Dawnwalker,
Mortal Shell II, Onimusha, Marvel1943: Rise of Hydra
current-gen only Infinity Ward's CoD, Duskbloods
+ My guess: Wolverine, Exodus, Mudang, Crimson Desert, Clockwork etc ...
~ seems like it might get too stacked

1Victor8h ago

@rokos:”Hopefully “
I downvoted you not for been hopeful but because I have seen the same “NEXT YEAR WILL BE SPECIAL “ comment for the last 10+ and hasn’t seen anything special from Microsoft.
I hope next year will be the one that everyone been waiting for since the last 3 years of the Xbox 360, it have to be after over $80 billions spent on acquisitions.

Lightning778h ago

So the new excuse is they don't count because it's from the ABK now huh. I guess all those 3rd party games count even less because they don't own them. According to your always crappy logic.

OtterX19h ago

Always with the "next year..."! 😂

neutralgamer199218h ago

I don't know they have delivered this year and even last year. And they have a lot more content in the pipeline right now than anyone else. We can't just keep hating on MS

Indiana Jones
South of midnight
Avowed
Flight simulator
Hell Blade 2
Minecraft update
Gears of war reloaded
Indian Jones:expansion
Gears E day
Clockwork revolution
Fable
Doom the dark ages
The outer worlds 2
Grounded 2
Call of duty

OtterX18h ago

How many of those titles were just buyouts of companies that were going about making their games anyways? *Throws cash - "Oh look what we made!"

dveio18h ago(Edited 18h ago)

This list, that's been posted again, and again, and again in every single topic like this, contains almost nothing, literally almost nothing from Microsoft's own creational thoughtprocess.

It's a bunch of former 3rd party IPs.

Now even slowly returning to Playstation in some cases like Indiana, Hellblade, probably Starfield soon too, after they were made exclusively to Xbox on purpose.

Due to Microsoft's lack for own IP material except Halo & Forza. Which, the lack of, was the sole reason for all of it to happen in the first place anyway. Please don't pretend it wasn't.

And just look at all the games that come from Obsidian alone.

You really think Obsidian wasn't already working on Avowed and South of Midnight even without Microsoft buying Zenimax?

Microsoft delivered nothing but cheques.

OtterX18h ago(Edited 18h ago)

@dveio THIS. Lol, this dude thinks Call of Duty wouldn't exist without Microsoft! smh 😂

neutralgamer199217h ago(Edited 17h ago)

Common narrative I see often — that Microsoft shouldn’t get credit for the games its studios release because they “just bought them.” But this viewpoint ignores key context and sets a double standard that other platform holders aren’t held to

No one is saying these games wouldn't exist at all without Microsoft. But let’s not pretend that having a trillion-dollar company backing a studio doesn’t make a massive difference. Obsidian never had AAA funding before the Xbox acquisition. Pillars of Eternity was crowdfunded, and their resources were always stretched thin. Now they’re working on Avowed, with proper support behind it.

Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was made by around 20 people, using borrowed equipment and doing mocap in a boardroom. It was a passion project held together by tape and willpower. Today, Hellblade II exists because they were given resources, time, and freedom — something many developers don’t get unless they’re owned by a company that believes in their vision.

ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) was in real financial trouble before the Microsoft acquisition. Reports and insider accounts have pointed out how much they needed a cash infusion. And while some people want to write off Xbox’s ownership of Bethesda titles, they forget the alternative could have meant layoffs or even closures.

The same goes for Activision Blizzard. Would you really prefer the company to stay under Bobby Kotick, after all the documented workplace misconduct and toxic leadership issues? Say what you want about Microsoft, but their acquisition brought accountability and change to a company that desperately needed it.

At the same time, Xbox gets hated on for doing what every major company does. Sony bought Housemarque, Bluepoint, Insomniac — but no one says Spider-Man 2 “doesn’t count” because of that. Why does Xbox get treated differently for acquiring struggling or undervalued developers and giving them a chance to thrive?

And the idea that Xbox locks games away is outdated. They're pushing cross-platform releases, cloud gaming, Game Pass, and backward compatibility more than any other platform holder. They're not forcing all studios into live service. If anything, their upcoming lineup is less GAAS-heavy and more focused on narrative and creativity — Avowed, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Perfect Dark, Towerborne, and others show real variety.

Whether people like it or not, Xbox is now the biggest publisher in the industry and owns the most gaming IPs. But what matters more is how they treat their studios. Most of these teams were previously stuck making AA games with limited scope — now they’re getting the tools and support to aim higher.

So when people say “Microsoft didn’t make those games,” they’re missing the point. It’s not about who started the studio — it’s about who enabled them to do their best work. You don’t have to love Xbox to admit they’ve helped a lot of developers and are taking a player-first approach.

Instead of writing off everything they do, maybe try recognizing the good they’re doing for both devs and gamers. At the end of the day, we should want more studios to succeed — no matter who owns them

BeHunted17h ago

I'm surprised Clockwork Revolution (BioShock meets Dishonored) isn't getting more media attention. The game looks interesting and reminds me of the old RPG games.

anast16h ago

The only good game on that list is Flight sim. The rest are either average or will be average. It's not a good look for MS.

TheEroica16h ago

My god.... Look how many comments are upset about microsoft's successes... 😂 This may be my new favorite thread. Not one gamer saying thanks for all the goodness coming their way, just bitter anger and downvoting the very games they themselves will purchase throughout 2026.... Sony really worked you guys over this generation.... Condolences.

DivineHand12515h ago

@neutralgamer1992 You said what needed to be said.

I have heard for years from older gamers that fanboys are the biggest issue with any fanbase. They will defend or gloss over negative news as long as the correct logo is on the box and they bash the competing platform no matter how much good they are trying to bring.

Right now their advocacy for PlayStation is elevating that platform so high that Sony no longer believes they need to do anything to satisfy their loyal fanbase like they did in the PS4 days.

I just hope most of them will eventually start advocating for themselves and encourage others to do the same. No one should blindly support one platform because these companies do not care about anything other than profit.

neutralgamer199215h ago

Hunted

And first proper game done by the studio with proper AAA budget and saying it will be released when ready

Anast

I believe we went through this before that you are objectively wrong. Meta critic, user reviews, game sales. In Playstation top 10 best selling games were 5 from Microsoft studios

Otter

No this dude is saying so many other studios wouldn't be thriving without MS money and people would be getting abused physically and mentally with Bobby kotick and his side kicks

Also maybe look up how the original founder of Bethesda and zenimax was kicked out of his own company by his best friend lawyer. So that was always a shady place and had been struggling financially before MS paid a premium of almost 7 billion

Eroica

I use to be a die hard Playstation fan and now I only have a Pc. I see how these fans are so toxic. They just can't handle any positive news regarding Xbox. When the best selling games on playstation are Xbox titles. Look at Forza horizon being best seller and that's years old game by MS. I guess ms don't deserve credit for that success too since they are the only company in gaming making acquisitions

Forget the fact Sony paid 3.6 billion for bungie and MS 6.9 for zenimax. Which investment has turned out better

Destiny and marathon with a lot of controversy

While zenimax output is nothing short of amazing compared to what bungie has released

crazyCoconuts14h ago

Yeah it's tricky. "Xbox" has morphed to mean different things to different people.
Console, now Windows, GamePass, and the cross platform games. There's a mix of attitudes towards all those things individually, and maybe an overarching attitude towards MS. But can't argue that the game companies MS recently bought continue to flourish, and GamePass PC has been a great value over the last year.

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Lightning7716h ago(Edited 15h ago)

They've had good output so far. So waiting for those games shouldn't be a problem.

Who cares if they're buy outs of companies or whatever excuse you want to make. They're games that are being distributed to other console. Play the games and enjoy it instead of fanboying or complaining.

ocelot0717h ago

They going to be a he best and biggest publisher on Xbox, Playstation and PC next year. They not really said anything about Switch 2 though spite claiming to be big supporters.

quenomamen17h ago

If you call making one last Xbox before going full Sega, as Great. Then yea.

TheEroica16h ago

Doesn't feel like you're paying attention to what's happening.

RhinoGamer8817h ago

It will be, his net work will hit 50 million and he plans to buy a new mansion in Cape Cod. Thanks everyone! #failup

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80°

It Has Been Over 2,500 Days Since The Elder Scrolls 6 Was Revealed

It's been officially over 2,500 days since The Elder Scrolls 6 was revealed, and fans are still waiting for more than a logo and a mountain range.

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jznrpg1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago )

It will come out in another 1000-2000 days or so. I’d rather they remake Morrowind. After they added quest arrows, sprint button, making stats lesser and the big nerfs to spells Elder Scrolls has been too simplified. They could change that with ES6 but I don’t have much faith in modern Bethesda. I would love to be wrong

clevernickname1d 6h ago

Wait until he hears about Star Citizen...