Microsoft Accuses Customs Over Failed Phone Ban
Jul 12, 2013, 3:43 PM by Eric M. Zeman
Microsoft filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency today and accused its directors of ignoring a ban placed on Motorola products. Microsoft won a U.S. International Trade Commission case against Motorola last year. The ITC ordered that select Motorola devices be prevented from entering the country. According to Microsoft, Google (owner of Motorola) held a secret meeting with customs officials and convinced them that the order didn't really apply. The ITC did not enforce the ban and allowed the devices to enter the country. "Customs has a clear responsibility to carry out ITC decisions, which are reached after a full trial and rigorous legal review," said Microsoft Deputy General Counsel David Howard. "Here Customs repeatedly ignored its obligation and did so based on secret discussions." The ITC ban is supposed to be in effect until 2018, when Microsoft's patent expires. The patent pertains to how devices sync data wirelessly. The case was filed in Washington, D.C.
Comments
Hey, Microsoft...
(continues)