Motorola Mobility have won an injunction against the distribution of several Microsoft products in Germany.
The products in question are the Xbox 360 gaming console, Windows 7 operating system software, Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer. The injunction was granted after a ruling was made that Microsoft had infringed on two patents Motorola Mobility holds related to H.264 video playback.
Motorola is however unable to enforce the ruling just yet. The companies are involved in related legal action on the other side of the pond and the injunction apparently cannot go into effect until a Seattle judge lifts a restraining order pertaining to Motorola Mobility’s alleged abuse of FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) licenses. There is a hearing on the matter set for 7 May.
Microsoft is appealing the German ruling, with a spokesman saying, “This is one step in a long process, and we are confident that Motorola will eventually be held to its promise to make its standard essential patents available on fair and reasonable terms for the benefit of consumers who enjoy video on the web.”
Source: BBC