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Microsoft lodges EU complaint over Motorola patents

Microsoft is stepping up its battle against Google after filing a formal complaint with the EU Commission over a patent dispute with Motorola Mobility and its soon-to-be owner Google.

Microsoft complained that Motorola Mobility was charging too much for the use of its patents and is breaking competition rules, after the European Commission and US Justice Department approved Google’s $12.5bn takeover of Motorola.

Motorola is claiming that Microsoft products are using its patents, which allow for wireless connections and ability to stream video online, without permission.

“Motorola has refused to make its patents available at anything remotely close to a reasonable price,” read a blog posted by Microsoft’s deputy general counsel Dave Heiner. “We have taken this step because Motorola is attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, our Xbox game console and other products.”

The move comes as Motorola has filed lawsuits in the US and Europe demanding that Microsoft and Apple, which has also lodged a formal complaint to the EU Commission about Motorola Mobility’s patent charges, remove these products from the market.

“Motorola is on a path to use standard essential patents to kill video on the web, and Google, as its new owner, does not seem willing to change course,” said Heiner.

Microsoft says that Motorola is demanding an unreasonable fee for using its patents, amounting to 2.25% of the total price of the product.

“If every firm priced its standard essential patents like Motorola, the cost of the patents would be greater than all the other costs combined in making PCs, tablets, smartphones and other devices,” wrote Heiner. “Obviously, this would greatly increase the prices of these devices for consumers.”

Jenni Baker, London