Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 30th Apr 2012 11:53 UTC
Barnes & Noble is spinning off its Nook e-reader business into a new company - which will be a cooperation with Microsoft. Redmond will invest $300 million into the new company, and on top of that, the two companies have settled the patent litigation, which was part of Microsoft's string of mafia practices against Android vendors. I have a sneaking suspicion this will be the end of the line for the Android-based Nook e-readers and tablets. Get 'm while supplies last.
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Member since:2011-05-12
Member since:2007-03-26
Looks, like their patents are enforceable. B'n'N was the only company that had balls to fight frontally.
Looks like MS money was sweeter than OS independence. Apparently Amazon success made them less self confident.
Does Amazon pay MS for Android?
Looks like MS money was sweeter than OS independence. Apparently Amazon success made them less self confident.
Does Amazon pay MS for Android?
Sadly we will never know if Microsoft's patents were enforceable. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Microsoft offered this much money knowing that:
a/ their patents would never be invalidated thus keeping their Android royalties streaming in
b/ guaranteeing a platform to release their new flagship tablet OS.
All in all, this is a clever move by Microsoft.
Edited 2012-04-30 13:32 UTC
Member since:2010-06-08
Other way around, they offered that much money knowing that otherwise B&N would invalidate their bogus patents, and it would cause others to start fighting their racket as well. So they just decided to buy off the only resolute fighter. It's a bribe in short. B&N didn't have decency to spit back on it.
Edited 2012-04-30 18:05 UTC
Member since:2006-01-24
I see this simply as Microsoft buying their way out of a bad situation. B&N were calling for the DOJ to investigate Microsoft's patent trolling while also showing patents in question to the world by refusing to accept the 'licence-deal' with it's accompanying NDA.
Yes, it's a shame Microsoft is able to buy itself out of this, but calling it a win?
If anything this shows other potential targets of Microsoft's patent racketeering that when push comes to shove, Microsoft has no interest in actually going to court and have their 'patents' scrutinized.
This certainly is a win for B&N though, they get $300 million 'investment' from Microsoft into a new joint venture where B&N hold 82.4% ownership. For them, if their 'readers' end up running android or windows probably makes little to no difference as they are making their money off content (e-books).
Member since:2006-07-04
Member since:2007-02-17
Looks, like their patents are enforceable. B'n'N was the only company that had balls to fight frontally.
Nope. B&N had already eliminated almost all of the patents Microsoft brought against them.
The more probable conclusion is that Microsoft bought B&N in order to avoid an embarrassing loss in the sham case against B&N and thereby ending their extortion racket against Android vendors.
Member since:2007-02-17
"Looks, like their patents are enforceable. B'n'N was the only company that had balls to fight frontally.
Nope. B&N had already eliminated almost all of the patents Microsoft brought against them.
The more probable conclusion is that Microsoft bought B&N in order to avoid an embarrassing loss in the sham case against B&N and thereby ending their extortion racket against Android vendors. "
Backup:
http://www.muktware.com/news/3563/microsoft-barnes-noble-settle-pat...
"In its signature style Microsoft has settled the patent dispute with Barnes & Noble. The company was losing the legal fight against Barnes & Noble and a court decision certainly was going to trash Microsoft's strategy of ripping Android players over bogus patents.
Microsoft Paying $300 Million In Damages?
As a 'payment' to Barnes & Noble for settling the bogus patent dispute Microsoft is creating a subsidiary for Barnes & Noble with a whooping $300 million investment for 17.6% stake whereas B&N holds 82.4% stake in the new company. This is a smart move by Microsoft to save its image and continue its attack on Android by spinning its 'defeat' in legal fight against B&N as a 'partnership'."
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2005-09-01
Looks, like their patents are enforceable. B'n'N was the only company that had balls to fight frontally.
Looks like MS money was sweeter than OS independence. Apparently Amazon success made them less self confident.
Does Amazon pay MS for Android?