Microsoft Faces Potential US Ban Of XBox 360 Sales
If you’re unfamiliar with the lawsuit that Motorola has against Microsoft that has been brewing since 2010, here’s a quick refresher:
The dispute dates back a few years, and centres around allegations that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 infringes upon five patents held by Motorola, mostly related to video codecs.
The thing is, International Trade Commission judge David Shaw has spoken out against Microsoft, stating that he believes Microsoft should be banned from importing new XBox 360 consoles (they’re manufactured in China) and should also be prevented from selling new consoles in the United States. He has also stated Microsoft should also pay Motorola 7% of the value of all the remaining unsold consoles in the country.
If the ITC commissioners agree with Shaw, then Microsoft will be prevented from selling any new 4GB and 250GB consoles in the US. It is unknown if the 320GB new, pre-owned, or refurbished consoles will be affected or if they will be allowed sale if this is the case. The situation is serious enough that if the dispute is found in favor of Motorola, the case will end up on President Obama’s table, where he’ll have 60 days to review the findings.
