Google, Apple Accused by Judge for Using Courts as 'Business Strategy'

Apple and Google were told off by a judge during a fairly routine patent dispute between the two. The case has been ongoing since 2010 in Florida and involves well over 180 claims to patents. Now that the companies themselves filed a query to reduce the scope of the case that they have made themselves, Miami U.S. District Judge Robert Scola thinks it has gone far enough.

The judge accuses the two parties of having "no interest in efficiently and expeditiously resolving the dispute" and are just using the court case and further proceedings as a "business strategy."  In the aftermath of the latest query to reduce the scope of the case, the judge has responded that "without a hint or irony, the parties now ask the court to mop up a mess that they made," and subsequently declined the query.

Feeling that the companies should be responsible, the judge has further ordered both companies to streamline the case themselves in the coming four months, or else it would be placed on hold until the 100 or so terms currently in dispute are defined to everyone's satisfaction. As this could take more time than either companies are willing to invest, it is highly likely that the companies will opt to clean up the mess themselves instead.

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  • CheesyHotDogPuff
    Hero of the technology world.
    Reply
  • CheesyHotDogPuff
    Hero of the technology world.
    Reply
  • Immoral Medic
    Someone is waking up in this world. Thank ("god" of choice).
    Reply
  • kanoobie
    Way to go judge! I was never a fan of the daytime courtroom dramas/shows like Judge Judy, but, if they ever make one involving the judge ordering corporations to shape up, I think I would watch Judge Scola.
    Reply
  • cscott_it
    It's about time the courts started getting sick of these silly lawsuites. Compete with your features, not with your lawsuits. If it was something groundbreaking, then I could see it a single real feature. Not being rectangular with rounded edges, not the position of your audiojack, and most certainly not swipe to unlock.
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    Miami U.S. District Judge Robert Scola just might be my new adulthood hero.
    Reply
  • nebun
    about time....now let's dismiss all the stupid lawsuits that are going on against companies...so many people out there are suing each other, it's not even funny
    Reply
  • cats_Paw
    Finally someone with common sence... If i was the Judge, Id also give them an aditional clause to the ultimatium: If you dont fix this between yourselves, none of you is selling anything untill you reach an agreement (If they behave like kids, you have to treat them like kids).
    Reply
  • catfishtx
    Hopefully this sets a precedent with other judges.
    Reply
  • davewolfgang
    Don't forget Judge - Get whomever at the Patent Office that "Approved" all these in the hot seat and throw HIM in jail for Contempt (Contempt of Common Sense!!!) - and KEEP him there until the case is dismissed or thrown out.....and then just keep him there!
    Reply