Under legal pressure in Germany, Google may perhaps be pushed into a licensing agreement with Microsoft regarding potential patent infringement. Namely, Google's data collection process for inputting information onto their Maps app is considered patent infringement by Microsoft’s Bing. But before suggesting that a licensing agreement is even a possibility, an examination of the legal situation is important.
Ironically, it was Google owned Motorola that initially initiated legal proceedings against Microsoft. In response, Microsoft assaulted Google with a threat to sue them on grounds of patent infringement. In spite of this and backed with the confidence of their large store of mobile device patents from their recent acquisition of Motorola, Google maintained its strong stance by denying that any form of license agreement should occur.
However, Microsoft’s injunction against German Google Maps service would simultaneously benefit Microsoft’s Bing and modify the landscape of map apps. Furthermore, this, coupled with the fact that the German courts are heavily favouring Microsoft, could cause Google to rethink their choice to ignore any kind of licencing agreement.
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