Imagine what a step back it would be if we could no longer watch videos on our computing devices or connect via Wi-Fi, or if only some products, but not others, had these capabilities. That would defeat the whole purpose of an industry standard.
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Microsoft recently announced that it will not seek injunctions against other firms’ products on the basis of standard essential products (and Microsoft had never done so). Apple and Cisco made similar statements. Unfortunately, Google refused.
So, the silly fight on software patents is now extended to hardware, manufacturing, engineering, design and tooling.
If only such standards were thrown into the world with FOSS licences so *anyone*, not just software giants, could make those computing devices, or make their own.
Which is, of course, the crazy talk.
Read the article. Under FRAND, companies get access to 2300 patents from 50 companies for $0.02.
Googarola is demanding $22.50 for access to 50 patents. Imagine if they’d gotten ownership of the Nortel stack.