CVG

Xbox 360 doesn't violate a patent owned by Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility, a judge at the International Trade Commission has said in a preliminary decision.

The legal fight dates back to 2010 when Motorola accused Microsoft of infringing five patents, four of which have been droppedfrom the case. The last patent in question allows devices to communicate wirelessly over short distances.

A final ruling in the case isn't due until July,Reuters reports. If Google is successful, Microsoft's console can be banned from importation into the United States.

Microsoft corporate vice president and deputy general counsel David Howard said of the preliminary ruling: "We are pleased with the administrative law judge's finding that Microsoft did not violate Motorola's patent and are confident that this determination will be affirmed by the commission."

Google spokesman Matt Kallman said: "We are disappointed with today's determination and look forward to the full commission's review."

It's a bit late for this now, isn't it? I persume this is about the Xbox 360 slim, which has been out for nearly 3 years already. I hate this patent crap anyway, they should be commonly owned by the public i think. Why restrict technology through patents?

Then no one would have the incentive to "invent" because they wouldn't make $$ off them.

Don't they have enough money as it is lol

I'm sure there are other reasons to invent stuff, rather than for profit. Just because you invented something, you don't automatically become rich. My problem with patents is when companies start using to try to gain a monopoly on a common technology like touch screen technology or voice recognition. And so what if Microsoft "violated" one of google's patent. Google are worth enough anyway.