In a decision that could have consequences to many of Google’s businesses, a jury has found the search giant responsible for infringing on the patents of a small Texas company, Bedrock Computer Technologies. Google has been ordered to pay penalties of $5 million for its use of a key piece of software code, and the decision could affect other companies as well.
Google was one of many defendants named in Bedrock’s suit, filed in 2009, which also targets Yahoo, MySpace, Amazon, PayPal, Match.com, AOL, and others. The code in question has to do with the Linux kernel, a fundamental part of the software that’s at the core of Google’s servers and the Android operating system. The jury found that Bedrock’s patent was valid and that Google was infringing, which could led to many other defendants either settling or paying Bedrock licensing fees.
via Google Loses Patent Infringement Suit, Ordered to Pay $5 Million | News & Opinion | PCMag.com.