PATENTS : MICROSOFT REFERS GOOGLE TO COMMISSION OVER VIDEO.

A new episode in the patents war will unfold under the arbitration of the European Commission, which will settle the dispute over standard essential patents (SEPs) for videos in relation with computers or games. Indeed, on 22 February, Microsoft announced that it had filed a complaint with the EU executive against Motorola Mobility and Google for violating EU competition rules. "We have taken this step because Motorola is attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, our Xbox game console and other products," said Dave Heiner, Microsoft vice-president and deputy general counsel.

As in the case of Apple's complaint, these so-called standard-essential patents are integral to the functioning of devices such as PCs, smartphones and tablets and are the focus of this merciless fight between technological groups - first and foremost: Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, Motorola and Google. SEPs are patents owned by private companies that involve technologies that have become standard in the industry, as defined...