Microsoft launches Android patent suit against Kyocera

Microsoft has claimed certain smart phones developed by Japanese technology company Kyocera have infringed a number of patents covering the Android technology.

In a complaint filed on Friday (March 6) at the US District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle, Microsoft claimed seven of its patents have been infringed in technology related to the DuraForce, Hydro and Brigadier smart phone lines manufactured by Kyocera.

The patents were issued between 2002 and 2007 by the US Patent and Trademark Office and cover functions used in smart phones to improve the battery life of a phone, rotate the display screen and improve the speed of applications.

Although Android was originally developed by Google, Microsoft owns a number of patents related to the technology.

According to a report published by data analysis company comScore in January, Android is the most commonly used operating system by smart phone manufacturers across the US.

In its complaint, Microsoft said: “Although research comes at great risk, Microsoft ... continues to choose the path of the innovator. But others have a different approach, waiting for innovators like Microsoft to bear the expense of developing new technologies and then incorporating the most successful inventions into their own products—without permission

“The seven patents at issue in this case demonstrate the breadth of the Microsoft patent portfolio and substantial contributions that Microsoft has made to the world of mobile devices,” the company added.

Microsoft is seeking an injunction preventing the sale of the allegedly infringing products and for the case to be recognised as “exceptional”, which would mean that the technology company would be awarded attorney’s fees as well as damages for wilful infringement.

Neither Microsoft nor Kyocera responded to a request for comment.