The 'sales' are gray PlayBook mine at RIM

Only 200 000 PlayBook tablets and 10.6 million BlackBerry smartphones were shipped this quarter. RIM announced yesterday its financial results for its second fiscal quarter 2011. The launch of the Berezina PlayBook turns but still believes his parent on a rebound and put through a review system and business operations.

Kodak wins a round, but still remains the battle

There is a new twist in the case between Apple and RIM to Kodak on a possible infringement of patents relating to the image preview and processing of different resolutions. The commissioners of the International Trade Commission (ITC) decided to go back to a Kodak unfavorable opinion of the administrative court, reopening the file again.

In January 2010, Kodak filed two complaints against Apple and RIM, for alleged violation of a patent on the preview images and processing of different resolutions and another on the ability of a computer to "get help" to another application to perform certain functions, which patents are infringed by the iPhone and BlackBerry. Apple was quick to respond, accusing Kodak patent infringement on the image processing in its cameras and handheld cameras.

The administrative judge of the ITC had considered responsible for the case that Apple and RIM does not violate any patents from Kodak. The commissioners of the ITC, however, decided to reverse this decision, made reopen the file at a time when Kodak revealed his true intentions: to get a settlement up to a billion dollars, an amount necessary for this company lacking liquidity.

Kodak had won against in the second round: the ITC administrative judge responsible for the second case had held that Kodak did not infringe the patent from Apple. The commissioners of the ITC must decide this case by September, but decided not to do: Kodak has definitely won on this ground.

In the first round, Kodak had appealed the decision of the ITC, which was partially confirmed its decision unfavorable elements had to pass before an administrative judge. It is precisely in the context of this new expertise that Kodak has this time received a favorable decision, "the ITC has changed key aspects of an initial recommendation of a judge of the ITC in the charges of violation patent brought by Kodak against Apple and RIM, "said Kodak.

Again, you will understand, the six commissioners of the ITC will decide definitively, by August 30. Nothing is sure in this case; financial markets unpopular decision in mid-fig and grape: Kodak unscrewing action of more than 8% at the close of the NYSE. It would not be surprising that once again, the historical name of the photograph recalls his rise to a friendly agreement.

Nortel Auction

Nortel Placed in receivership, Nortel has auctioned a 6000 patent represents a real treasure chest for any company involved in some way in mobile telephony. While Google had started the bidding at 630 million Euros, it is ultimately a consortium of Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, RIM and Sony who won for a mere $ 3.2 billion Euros. A kind of all against Google that worries the authorities right now.

The problem is that this consortium, which became known as the Rockstar Bidco, has three companies in direct competition with Google (Android) in the field of mobile telephony: Apple (IOS), Microsoft (Windows Phone) and RIM (BlackBerry OS). This is not the first time these companies come together to counter Google, which has a real problem of industrial property, the sword of Damocles over Android and all manufacturers using this OS: Microsoft, Apple and EMC s 'were already allied to blow the beard and nose Google patents from Novell.

The competition authorities are concerned that these alliances can be considered a breach of competition against Google. These patent portfolios are real weapons that can destroy the strategy of the Mountain View Company in mobile telephony: by attacking Samsung, Motorola, HTC and others, Microsoft, Apple or RIM would indeed make Android charge, and decrease of much interest, while Google cannot defend its partners want to have itself a sufficient portfolio of patents.

Google has the best role here: she continues to assert itself as opposed to the arms race in the field of patents, but nevertheless participated in the entire major who presented bids in recent months. The Mountain View Company has in fact no choice: "the best defense of society against this type of prosecution is, ironically, to have a thick portfolio of patents, Google is a relatively young company, but our competitors have larger portfolios given their history, "admitted the legal department a few months ago.

Google should obviously try to invalidate the sale of a portfolio covering areas as diverse as wireless, Internet search, social networks and new technologies of data transmission for mobile devices. The defense seems to be emerging is that of accusing these companies have allied in order to keep up: if it could fly against RIM, EMC and Ericsson have finally paid unless each bid basis, it should be less effective against Apple.

The Cupertino company is not only the company that has most contributed to the pot, but the only company to have never left the table deal with Google - it actually covered financially for Rockstar Bidco they retire no negotiations without formally never join the consortium. A real poker game, it will be understood, which Apple is out to win the pedal.