MOBILE PATENT WARS: A Google homepage displayed on a Motorola Droid phone. The company has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission against Nokia and Microsoft accusing them of conspiring to use their patents against smartphone industry rivals. - Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Google Inc accused Microsoft Corp and Nokia of conspiring to use their patents against smartphone industry rivals, and said it has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission.
In its complaint, Google claimed Microsoft and Nokia, which cooperate on smartphone technology and production, transferred 1,200 patents for assertion to a group called MOSAID, which the company called a "patent troll" - a term referring to a holder of patents that litigates them aggressively.
"Nokia and Microsoft are colluding to raise the costs of mobile devices for consumers, creating patent trolls that side-step promises both companies have made," the Internet search leader said in a statement, adding that the complaint was filed "recently."
"They should be held accountable, and we hope our complaint spurs others to look into these practices."
Microsoft said the complaint was a "desperate tactic" by Google.
"Google is complaining about antitrust in the smartphone industry when it controls more than 95% of mobile search and advertising," Microsoft said in an e-mailed statement.
"Google is complaining about patents when it won't respond to growing concerns by regulators, elected officials and judges about its abuse of standard-essential patents," Microsoft said.
Nokia was not immediately available for comment. - Reuters