On Apple Suing HTC: Can Google Resist Being Evil?
Thoughts on Apple Suing HTC and by association, Google, by way of Android:
While no fan of lawsuits in general, I expected this from Apple. Recall the keynote debut of the iPhone, where Steve Jobs tossed in one comment on the best iPod, phone, and Internet communicator: “Boy have we patented it.” A not-so-thinly-veiled warning from day one. Apple has a long history of lawsuits, being sued and suing others. Par for the course.
So I’m actually more interested in Google’s reaction. As much as it would be justified, I don’t expect Google to counter-sue. Google has long had this mantra of “don’t be evil.” As far as I can recall, they rarely file lawsuits (although they are sued quite regularly).
But if Google does counter-sue Apple: I’d say Steve Jobs was right: In my mind, Google’s whole “don’t be evil” mantra would clearly be exposed as “bullshit.” They may be justified in fighting back, but it would change my opinion of their company, effectively placing “don’t be evil” in the proverbial Trash.
Which, naturally, is patented.
Well, Google can’t counter sue, because Google isn’t being sued. HTC is. Which makes this whole thing ten times more complicated and interesting. This is obviously meant as a message to Google, but it was done in such a way that Google isn’t directly able to react. It’s also a veiled threat to other handset makers that if they decide to make Android, or even the upcoming Windows Phone Series 7 handsets, they can expect to be tied up in a long legal battle. Could serve as a very good deterrent to Google’s “beat iPhone by sheer numbers of available handsets” strategy.
Ah yeah, good point. Guess we’ll see if Google figures out some sneaky way to lend support to HTC.