A US International Trade Commission (ITC) judge has ruled that Microsoft’s Xbox console does not infringe on the patents held by Google’s Motorola Mobility unit.
In the ruling, Judge David Shaw gave an initial determination that the Xbox did not violate section 337 of the Tariff Act which is subject to review by six member commission with final decision expected in July this year.
Motorola filed a lawsuit in 2010, accusing Microsoft of infringing five of its patented technologies in Windows and the Xbox 360.
Motorola also sought seek sales ban of the products in the US and in Germany.
Last year, judge Shaw ruled that Microsoft infringed four of the five patents held by Motorola but the commission ordered him to revisit the case and he reversed his decision in the latest ruling.
Microsoft corporate vice president and deputy general counsel David Howard said the company is pleased with the judge’s ruling and is confident that the determination will be affirmed by the commission.
Google said it is disappointed by the decision and will look forward to the full commission’s review.
Last year, the US District Court Judge James Robart denied Motorola’s request for an injunction on products manufactured by Microsoft in response to mobile maker’s claim that the products violate its H.264 patents.
