Motorola ban on Apple push data upheld in Germany
updated 03:55 pm EDT, Fri March 16, 2012
Apple fails in appeal of German push patent suit
Apple's appeal to the ban of push notifications in Germany after a legal spat with Motorola fell on deaf ears this past Wednesday. The ban will continue for a time of at least one year, keeping Apple legally prohibited from using its push notification feature for its iCloud and outgoing MobileMe services. The Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court made the ruling, supporting Motorola's claim to the patent related to push e-mail notifications.
The loss applies to anyone in Germany, whether they reside there or simply travel there. The move isn't necessarily a major blow to the American company, as the devices themselves remain on sale.
The two companies have been trading blows in German courts over other matters as well, including Apple wins related to photo galleries and the slide-to-unlock motion. [via Florian Mueller]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2005
Thanks...to someone
Well, I'm an American living in Germany using an iPhone on Germany carrier system. Thanks to Apple for trying to ride over someone else's patent (without just licensing it to begin with), and thanks to Motorola for disabling a service I use and that you cannot as the IP holder provide me an alternative in my hardware/service selection, or perhaps thanks for not at market-fair-value licensing your IP in the first place. Altogether, Thank You Apple and Motorola for hurting the consumer.