Motorola Withdraws ITC Complaint Against Apple

Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility has withdrawn its entire second International Trade Commission complaint against Apple.

The surprising move was confirmed by an intellectual property expert Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents. First filed during mid-August, the ITC confirmed a month later that it would investigate the complaint.

It seems the reason for the withdrawal will be shrouded in mystery, though, as Motorola did not detail why it withdrew its ITC complaint. The firm's filing explained that it wished to "terminate all claims in this investigation without prejudice based on Motorola's withdrawal of the complaint." Both Motorola and Apple paid for their own legal costs and attorneys' fees.

Mueller stressed that the "simplest explanation" for the withdrawing of the complaint would be a global settlement deal being reached between the two technology firms.

"This could still be a unilateral goodwill gesture on Google's part toward Apple if high-level settlement talks are progressing well," Mueller stated. "But it could also be a tactical decision involving a plan to reassert the same claims in a federal court."

He added that, in his opinion, it's likely that parent company Google believed the complaint was unlikely to ultimately succeed with the ITC, but the decision is a "mystery". If the complaint was to rule in Motorola's favor, it could have led to the sale of the iPhone 5 being banned within the U.S.

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  • Fml.
    Reply
  • nukemaster
    Lawsuits.......there's a bag of money for that!
    Reply
  • 4745454b
    Damn.
    Reply
  • mayankleoboy1
    Its time for Google to go for the kill. Any more lawsuits by Apple cant be tolerated anymore on a open ecosystem.
    Reply
  • dalethepcman
    Wow... Google has officially turned the other cheek. Lawyers can go suck it!
    Reply
  • halcyon
    $$$$$$$$$$$
    Reply
  • robochump
    Wonder what Apple had up its sleeve? heh. I am hoping that US Tech companies can maintain gentleman's agreement and not try to screw each other too often. Google should be some what thankful to Apple for basically borrowing heavily from the iOS for its Android OS. Cannot deny that fact no matter how much of an iHater you are.
    Reply
  • zeratul600
    Iphones using android... that will be a sign that the end is coming
    Reply
  • pliskin1
    "Both Motorola and Apple paid for their own legal costs and attorneys' fees."
    Who else is going to pay for it. The general public certainly shouldn't.
    Reply
  • halcyon
    pliskin1"Both Motorola and Apple paid for their own legal costs and attorneys' fees."Who else is going to pay for it. The general public certainly shouldn't.Um...do you really think an iPhone cost $800 to engineer, make, and market? I'm just say'n.
    Reply