Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2012/10/03/motorola_drops_apple_patent_complaint/

Googorola mysteriously pulls plug on ITC Apple patent probe

Does what no fanboi can do: drops the subject

By Brid-Aine Parnell

Posted in On-Prem, 3rd October 2012 10:58 GMT

Googorola has mysteriously dropped the patent infringement allegations it made against Apple at the US International Trade Commission.

Google-owned Motorola filed the complaint against Apple in August, claiming the fruity firm had copied seven of its protected designs that dealing with location-based reminders, email notifications and other tech. Just last month the ITC said it would start an investigation into Apple regarding the accusations.

Then out of the blue, Moto asked the ITC to drop the probe, even though it insisted there had been no agreement between it and Apple over the patents.

Motorola reserved its right to launch further legal action over the same patents, but in the mean time it withdrew its arguments and agreed to take care of its own costs and lawyers' fees. Apple agreed to settle its own bills, too.

Googorola has another case pending at the commission, in which Apple has been cleared of infringing three of the patents, but the judge has yet to decide on a fourth patent. The beak, Thomas Pender, has said he will make that decision by 21 December.

Neither Google nor Motorola responded to requests for comment about their reasons for withdrawing the complaint. ®