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Skyhook sues Google, claims business interference and patent infringement

Firm files two separate complaints

Skyhook sues Google, claims business interference and patent infringement
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| Skyhook Wireless news

Location specialist Skyhook Wireless is suing Google over what it believes are cases of business interference and patent infringement.

Skyhook, which provides software that determines a user's location via nearby wi-fi signals, is seeking both an injunction on Google's current wi-fi based operations in the location based sector, as well as millions of dollars in damages.

"Their behaviour in this case is contradictory to their message of openness," said Skyhook CEO Ted Morgan, according to Bloomberg.

"In areas that are very important to Google, the rules seem to change."

Mapping out the melee

The firm's case against Google is twofold, with Skyhook claiming Google took advantage of its control over Android to block Skyhook signing deals with OEMs to incorporate its mapping technology into handsets.

In particular, Skyhook claims Google's stance interfered with a contract the firm had with Motorola, costing the company millions.

"There was a time when Google tried to compete fairly with Skyhook, but once Google realised its positioning technology was not competitive, it chose other means to undermine Skyhook and damage and attempt to destroy its position in the marketplace for location positioning technology," reads the first lawsuit.

"Google wielded its control over the Android operating system...to force device manufacturers to use its technology rather than that of Skyhook...by threatening directly or indirectly to deny timely and equal access to evolving versions of the Android operating system and other Google mobile applications."

Secondly, Skyhook also claims Google's own mapping technology violates four separate Skyhook patents.

Google has responded by stating it is yet to see the lawsuits in question.

Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font. He's also Pocket Gamer's resident football gaming expert and, thanks to his work on PG.biz, monitors the market share of all mobile OSes on a daily basis.