It looks like Apple won’t be making big bucks in Europe this holiday season.

The Mannheim Regional Court in Germany has just granted Motorola Mobility an injunction against all Apple products infringing one of its core cellular technology patents. This gives Motorola the right to immediately ask for a Europe-wide sales ban on the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, the original iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G. The iPhone 4S probably includes the offending technology, too, so you can add that to the list as well. The reason why it’s not in the official list is because the lawsuit was filed back in April, when the 4S didn’t exist.

If Motorola Mobility decides to enforce the ban immediately, it will have to pay a $134 million bond — in case the verdict is overturned in appeal.

The ruling states that Apple could modify its products by removing the patented feature so as to steer clear of further infringement. It remains to be seen whether this is a commercially viable option for Apple. This feature could be somewhat fundamental to wireless data transfers in general.

 

Apple is certainly going to appeal this ruling to the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court and to request a stay for the duration of the appellate proceedings. Such a suspension may or may not be granted. If there’s no stay, Motorola will have to decide whether to bear the risk of enforcing a ruling that might be overturned later. Apple asked for a €2 billion ($2.7 billion) bond, but the court agreed with Motorola that a much lower amount — in this case, €100 million — was warranted.

 

Apple might also make efforts to procure a license to the patent-in-suit. Apple made an offer to Motorola to take a license on FRAND terms going forward, but, as I’ll explain further below, Motorola’s lawyers developed a theory that enabled them to reject Apple’s offer while fully preserving their client’s entitlement to injunctive relief according to the decision taken by the Mannheim court. Since the ruling adjudicated a new question of law, it’s of particular significance.

If you’re an European looking to stuff some socks with Apple shinies, buy them while you still can!

Below you’ll find a copy of the court ruling. You won’t understand any of it unless you speak both German and Legalese, though.

11-12-09 Mannheim Ruling for MMI Against Apple

via fosspatents.blogspot

After two consecutive quarters of net losses, Acer CEO J.T. Wang has announced that his company will stop making cheap crap in order to focus on ultrabooks and hopefully return the company to profitability.

Coming up next, a quick look at the decision that put Acer out of business.

via allthingsd

This is bound to make a lot of people unhappy with Japan. A Japanese official with the Fisheries Agency has confirmed today that Japan will spend 2.3 billion yen ($29 million) from the country’s tsunami reconstruction budget to fund its annual research whaling expedition in the Antarctic Ocean. The whale hunting season will last through February, and media reports say 900 whales will be culled by the end of it.

The fisheries official said these funds will help whaling towns located along the devastated northeastern coast, as well as provide protection for all of Japan’s research whaling ships.

This is obviously bad news for whales in the Antarctic, but I do believe the funds will help people living in devastated whaling towns get back on their feet. Which is why I’m really conflicted about this whole deal… should I side with the whales or with the humans?

via hosted.ap

Oh man, did I say blowing a fish? I meant Blowfish.

Blowfish is a recently approved hangover drug containing aspirin, caffeine and a stomach-soothing agent. The tree ingredients are packaged as effervescent tablets which promise to knock out hangover symptoms in as little as 15 minutes. Not bad!

Blowfish creator Brenna Haysom had this to say about hangovers and her drug:

So many people see hangovers as a shameful or embarrassing thing. I think of them as just a fact of life.

 

The magic of the effervescent tablet is that it hits your system much faster than getting a cup of coffee, taking an antacid and taking some aspirin separately.

 

I definitely don’t encourage people to get obliterated. This is a really effective product for people who have a couple too many: A happy hour that goes a little long, or holiday parties are a perfect example … and they wake up feeling terrible. This gets you functioning again quickly.

A single dose of Blowfish, which consists of two effervescent tablets, will cost you $2.99. If you’re perpetually drunk and want to be economical, you can grab a twenty-five hangover pack for $49.99. It is currently available in Ricky’s NYC stores or online at ForHangovers.com. Sucks if you’re an European drunk as Blowfish is currently available in the US only.

via nydailynews

If you want to read about the Russian protests against Putin, head over to slate.com.

Herman Cain, US businessman and up until Saturday, presidential candidate for the GOP, has admitted to quoting Pokémon during some his speeches.

I believe these words came from the Pokémon movie. I’m not sure who the original author is, so don’t go write an article about the poet, but it says a lot about where I am– where I am with my wife and my family, and where we are as a nation.

 

Life can be a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It’s never easy when there’s so much on the line. But you and I can make a difference. There’s a mission just for you and me. (Pokemon 2000)

Cain is also suspected to have drawn inspiration from computer game SimCity with his proposed 9-9-9 tax plan, which is exactly the same tax plan that SimCity starts off with.

via huffingtonpost