Microsoft withdraws RAZR i preliminary injunction request
updated 08:21 pm EDT, Fri October 19, 2012
Phone still potentially enjoined on other patent violations
After about two hours of argument in the Munich, Germany Higher Regional Court, Microsoft withdrew a preliminary injunction request agains the Motorola RAZR line of smartphones. Microsoft alleged that the new RAZR i phone violated a patent involved with "merging various request methods into a single unified user interface," likely related to the phone's implementation of phone number dialing and push notification of key events.
Prior to the hearing, the preliminary injunctions was in some doubt. According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, the court remained unconvinced that there was a sense of urgency justifying the preliminary injunction as previous Motorola devices already implemented the same mechanisms as the RAZR.
Following the withdrawal, Motorola said that they are "very committed to providing compelling devices to German consumers" and are "extremely excited about the upcoming launch of RAZR i on 20th October" despite both Microsoft and Apple holding permanent sales injunctions against the manufacturer in Germany. Should Apple or Microsoft disagree with Motorola's assessment that the patents in question had been worked around, either (or both) of the giants would have to file a contempt of court motion against Motorola to halt sales of the new device.
Motorola's German website is still showing only a pair of devices for sale - the RAZR MHD and now the RAZR i. No Android tablets are available at all. Motorola Mobile reports that the software on the unavailable devices, including the Xoom tablets was being "reworked at the moment" and would be available soon.
