Barnes & Noble: M$ using patents to cripple Android competition

Quoting:“When Barnes & Noble asked Microsoft for more detailed information related to these patents, Microsoft refused, claiming that the information was confidential and could not be shared unless Barnes & Noble first executed a nondisclosure agreement.

Quoting:In the manner B&N described, Microsoft seemingly approaches each OEM and informs them rather vaguely (nothing specific) that their products are infringing on their patents. At that point there are two important questions the OEM’s must ask themselves, what’s the estimated cost of filtering through these patents, comparing them with the source and seeing if their legit and on the flip-side, what’s the cost of settlement in comparison. To expand a bit on the first thought of the two, companies must fist diagnose how expensive it will be to prove in court that they aren’t infringing and asses how solid of a case they can build all while cross referencing how does “that” cost relate to the product they’re selling. While that nice approximate number is rounded out they must also look at the second question which is, ultimately, how much the cost to settle is. Large corporations use their size and influence to intimidate smaller ones all the time, it’s not uncommon for the smaller company to simply settle when it knows that it would be far out of its comfort zone enduring a long costly battle with a company with the heft of Microsoft.

Quoting:A 29-page slide deck – made public this week in Microsoft’s patent lawsuit against Barnes & Noble — outlines, in great detail, the bookseller’s objections to the software company’s campaign to collect patent licensing fees from Android device makers.

Quoting:what are the chances that Google will somehow come to their aid? Slim I am thinking but it isn't outside of the realm of possibility.