Google Inc is at loggerheads with Microsoft Corp and Nokia over patent claims. The Internet search leader has filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing Microsoft and Nokia of conspiring to use their patents against smartphone industry rivals.
In its complaint to the European Commission, the chief regulator, Google accused Microsoft and Nokia of transferring 1,200 patents for assertion to a group called Mosaid, which the company called a "patent troll" - a term referring to a holder of patents that litigates them aggressively.
The complaint was also shared with the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission.
"Nokia and Microsoft are colluding to raise the costs of mobile devices for consumers, creating patent trolls that side-step promises both companies have made," Reuters quoted a statement from the Internet search leader.
"They should be held accountable, and we hope our complaint spurs others to look into these practices," it added.
However, Microsoft rubbished the accusation made by Google, describing it as "desperate tactic" by the search engine giant.
"Google is complaining about antitrust in the smartphone industry when it controls more than 95 percent of mobile search and advertising," Reuters quoted a statement from Microsoft.
"Google is complaining about patents when it won't respond to growing concerns by regulators, elected officials and judges about its abuse of standard-essential patents," it added.
Nokia joined hands with Microsoft last year with the former agreeing to adopt Windows as the operating system.
Now, Google has come down heavily on Nokia and Microsoft over 2,000 wireless patents that they sold to Mosaid Technologies Inc.
Mosaid, a company that specializes in collecting royalties on intellectual property, had earlier said that it was especting to earn at least $1 billion in revenue over the next decade through the royalties from the intellectual property rights. It was supposed to take one-third of the revenue generated from the patent loyalties.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
