Google should favor Motorola with new Android builds, internal doc suggests

By on Sep 8, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Legal September 8, 2011

On August 15th, Google announced its intentions to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion and Motorola’s competitors all voiced support for the deal, suggesting the acquisition would help each company fight in patent battles against Apple and Microsoft. FossPatents, however, recently revealed a document that suggests Motorola Mobility could soon have the upper hand when it comes to new Android builds. An internal document that was released by a judge in the Oracle vs. Google case says Google should provide Motorola Mobility with the latest versions of the Android operating system ahead of its competitors:

  • Do not develop in the open. Instead, make source code available after innovation is complete
  • Lead device concept: Give early access to the software to partners who build and distribute devices to our specification (ie, Motorola and Verizon). They get a non-contractual time to market advantage and in return they align to our standard.

As FossPatents points out, it is unlikely the above information is simply about Google’s Nexus line of products. As we’ve exclusively reported, Google’s first Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” phone will be made by Samsung. In addition, Google typically markets its Nexus products under its own name, not that of other handset manufacturers, so Motorola’s brand wouldn’t get the benefit. Either way, we can’t say we’re surprised by the proposed strategy to give Motorola the lead. Read on for an image of the court document.

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  • Gary

    This should be filed under the category of “dog bites man” info. This is sadly much ado about absolutely nothing. Slow news day at BGR. 

  • Anonymous

    I expect much much more out of BGR. 

    “In addition, Google typically markets its Nexus products under its own name, not that of other handset manufacturers, so Motorola’s brand wouldn’t get the benefit.” Last time I checked, the nexus s says Samsung in big writing on the back. Their second nexus phone, so I don’t know how you could possibly say typically. Secondly, you’re reading an old internal document. To suggest the example the gave has any baring to waht they do in the future is RIDICULOUS! Motorola DROID, Motorola XOOM, both devices that both Motorola and Verizon got  their hands on before anyone else. They were using the past as an example, not their future plans. This article is AWEFUL, and should be taken down because it gives no information about either company, and just expresses the author’s opinion. 

  • http://ivansavu.pip.verisignlabs.com/ Ivan

    I think you’re reading it wrong. It says “Give early access to the software to partners who build and distribute
    devices to our specification (ie, Motorola and Verizon)”. Nowhere it says that Samsung or HTC are not building devices to Google’s specification. And its no secret that Google’s partners get early access to its code. The ones that don’t get access are those that use android without Google’s ecosystem (for example Barnes and Noble and Amazon).

  • Anonymous

    TThis document is completely unrelated to the acquisition, yet the author is clearly creating a false relationship by implication! This is the last time I come to BGR. Bookmark deleted.

  • http://twitter.com/paddy2k Padraig O’Raghallaig

    The title and content of this article is totally wrong.
    a ) The doc is from before Google bought Motorola
    b ) It uses Motorola and Verizion as examples of Google’s Android partners. It could have as easily said HTC and T-Mobile.

  • http://twitter.com/ahow628 ahow628

    As a lawyer, you would think Florian Mueller would know what the abbreviation “ie” means. Turns out it doesn’t mean “only” or “limited to.” They are simply giving some examples of the types of companies that might do such a thing. Dummy.

  • Anonymous

    And people say Apple fanboys drank the koolaid. Just look at all these fandroids profess how Google can do no wrong even in the face of admitted hypocrisy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=25001493 Hank Godwin

    BGR- you have a staff full of idiots.  Seriously, did you even read the document?  It provided EXAMPLES of other companies.

  • herb

    Samsung should buy webos, i mean why not? They’re far better at hardware than hp or palm ever were and amazon, if the rumours are true, may well do a fine enough job at creating a robust platform for webos but it’ll take atleast a year to produce something of a worthy competitor to ios, android or winmob.

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