Google's Schmidt: Apple responding to Android with lawsuits, not innovation
Google executive Eric Schmidt has said his company will support HTC in its legal battle with Apple, and accused the company -- where he was once a board member -- for "responding with lawsuits" rather than innovating.
Schmidt's comments came during a speech given Tuesday at the Google Mobile Revolution conference in Tokyo, Japan. The former CEO and current executive chairman said his company will "make sure" that HTC doesn't lose its patent infringement suit with Apple, according to ZDNet Asia.
He then went on to criticize Apple's decision to sue competitors, though he didn't name the Cupertino, Calif., company by name. Schmidt was previously a member of Apple's board of directors, but left in August 2009 due to growing competition between the iPhone and devices running Android.
"We have seen an explosion of Android devices entering the market and, because of our successes, competitors are responding with lawsuits as they cannot respond through innovations," Schmidt reportedly said. "I'm not too worried about this."
Schmidt's comments echo those made a week ago by a spokesperson for HTC, who said officials at the company are "disappointed" that Apple is suing competitors "instead of competing fairly in the market." That came in response to a new patent complaint just filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission by Apple against HTC.
Only days after Apple lodged its latest complaint, the ITC ruled in favor of Apple in a separate lawsuit. An initial ruling from an ITC judge found that HTC's handsets illegally violate two patented inventions owned by Apple. The judge's findings are subject to review by the full commission.
Speaking Tuesday, Schmidt remained confident that HTC would be able to overturn the ITC decision. He reportedly said that Google will support HTC in the ongoing legal battle, but declined to offer further details.
Schmidt jokingly characterized disputes with Apple and other companies as "legal fun." But those lawsuits have had real consequences for companies like HTC, which is already involved in a costly licensing agreement with Microsoft.
Microsoft is believed to collect about $5 per unit for every Android device that HTC sells. It's a deal so lucrative that it's caused some pundits to speculate that Microsoft earns more from Android than it does off its own Windows Phone 7 platform.
And with its initial victory over HTC, Apple may also carve out a piece of the Android pie, as at least one analyst believes Apple could set a high royalty precedent with a definitive victory over the Taiwanese handset maker. That could pave the way for Apple to collect revenue from other, larger Android device makers like Motorola and Samsung.
Even smaller vendors are said to be concerned over legal threats to Android. One report from earlier Tuesday suggested that some Chinese device makers like Huawei and ZTE could shift toward Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform and away from Android.
Schmidt's comments came during a speech given Tuesday at the Google Mobile Revolution conference in Tokyo, Japan. The former CEO and current executive chairman said his company will "make sure" that HTC doesn't lose its patent infringement suit with Apple, according to ZDNet Asia.
He then went on to criticize Apple's decision to sue competitors, though he didn't name the Cupertino, Calif., company by name. Schmidt was previously a member of Apple's board of directors, but left in August 2009 due to growing competition between the iPhone and devices running Android.
"We have seen an explosion of Android devices entering the market and, because of our successes, competitors are responding with lawsuits as they cannot respond through innovations," Schmidt reportedly said. "I'm not too worried about this."
Schmidt's comments echo those made a week ago by a spokesperson for HTC, who said officials at the company are "disappointed" that Apple is suing competitors "instead of competing fairly in the market." That came in response to a new patent complaint just filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission by Apple against HTC.
Only days after Apple lodged its latest complaint, the ITC ruled in favor of Apple in a separate lawsuit. An initial ruling from an ITC judge found that HTC's handsets illegally violate two patented inventions owned by Apple. The judge's findings are subject to review by the full commission.
Speaking Tuesday, Schmidt remained confident that HTC would be able to overturn the ITC decision. He reportedly said that Google will support HTC in the ongoing legal battle, but declined to offer further details.
Schmidt jokingly characterized disputes with Apple and other companies as "legal fun." But those lawsuits have had real consequences for companies like HTC, which is already involved in a costly licensing agreement with Microsoft.
Microsoft is believed to collect about $5 per unit for every Android device that HTC sells. It's a deal so lucrative that it's caused some pundits to speculate that Microsoft earns more from Android than it does off its own Windows Phone 7 platform.
And with its initial victory over HTC, Apple may also carve out a piece of the Android pie, as at least one analyst believes Apple could set a high royalty precedent with a definitive victory over the Taiwanese handset maker. That could pave the way for Apple to collect revenue from other, larger Android device makers like Motorola and Samsung.
Even smaller vendors are said to be concerned over legal threats to Android. One report from earlier Tuesday suggested that some Chinese device makers like Huawei and ZTE could shift toward Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform and away from Android.
Comments
Apple is innovating that is why they are being copied.
If someone ripped off Google and tried beating them over their head with their own intelligent property they wouldn't defend it?
Innovate? Why so they can copy more?
LOL
Google's Android copies the iPhone at a wholesale level and then says it's Apple that doesn't innovate?
In my book what he did behind Apples back while serving on the board of directors is tantamount to corporate espionage. He's a weasel of the nth degree.
Apple put four years of hard and original work into making a totally new device, which everyone has since copied. They are totally justified in trying to protect that investment at this early stage in the game. Saying that now that we've copied you, you should innovate your way out of it and not sue us is a ridiculous argument.
I remember well the original unveiling of the iPhone and Steve saying something towards the end about 200+ patents that they had around it, '... and we will protect it'. (Or to that effect). So they are following through. As they should.
Sad sad world. And then jerks like this Google nitwit defend the practice. Get a grip...just because you're RICH doesn't mean you're RIGHT.
Cameron
Too funny!
Google's Android rips off the iPhone at a wholesale level and then says it's Apple that doesn't innovate?
What Eric Schmidt meant: "We aren't copying nearly as much of Apple's IP as we used to which means Apple isn't innovating nearly as much as they use to."
What Eric Schmidt meant: "We aren't copying nearly as much of Apple's IP as we used to which means Apple isn't innovating nearly as much as they use to."
'Instead of responding with lawsuits we need them to innovate more because we're running out of things to copy!'
Google executive Eric Schmidt has said his company will support HTC in its legal battle with Apple, and accused the company -- where he was once a board member -- for "responding with lawsuits" rather than innovating....
Okay, it's official. Schmidt will say absolutely *anything* if it advances his agenda. He was on Apple's BOD for cripes sake, he knows this is a misrepresentation at best.
I love how the universal response to these lawsuits has become "Apple would rather litigate than innovate". Sounds like something from John Cochran's mouth. A digestible soundbite that if repeated enough might be true in the minds of the thoughtless. The irony of this statement is unmatched in this century I believe. Thanks for the laugh Schmidt!
And what Cochran proved conclusively is that if you repeat that catchy phrase over and over again, people will always come to believe it's true.
It's very shrewd really, even if it's morally bankrupt at the same time.
Google executive Eric Schmidt has said his company will support HTC in its legal battle with Apple, and accused the company -- where he was once a board member -- for "responding with lawsuits" rather than innovating.
We will openly share your innovations.
[What Eric Schmidt meant:] 'Instead of responding with lawsuits we need them to innovate more because we're running out of things to copy!'
That sounds better than my phrasing.
In my book what he did behind Apples back while serving on the board of directors is tantamount to corporate espionage. He's a weasel of the nth degree.
So what is it he did behind Apple's back? Serious question.
This is pathetic.