beware what this could do to companies that license 'essential' technology ... like POET, perhaps.

keep your FRANDs close, and your enemies closer?

;-)

GLAL,

R.

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A lawsuit that pits Apple (and Microsoft and T-Mobile) versus Google (and Motorola and Qualcomm) could drastically change the power balance between patent holders and device makers.

The dispute centers on so-called standard-essential patents, which cover technology that is included in industry-wide technology standards.

Since others have to use the technology if they want their own products to meet an industry standard, the companies that submit their patents for approval by standards bodies are required to license them out on 'fair reasonable and non-discriminatory' (paywall link), or "FRAND" (wiki link), terms.

If Apple wins, the understanding of what fees are FRAND may decrease by at least an order of magnitude.