14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is really keen on taking revenge against Google after the search company tipped off the European antitrust regulators over its browser ballot, so the software giant is now trying to get Google Maps banned in Germany.
According to a report released by FOSS Patents, Microsoft claims that Google Maps infringes a patent granted in 1996 that covers a “computer system for identifying local resources and method therefor.” Microsoft says that Google is in violation of that patent with their Google Maps service.
As far as the Redmond-based software vendor is concerned, Google is violating its patent, so Google Maps must be banned as soon as possible in Germany.
In case this happens, Google would be forced to restrict access to basically all Maps services, not only on desktop and laptop computers, but also on mobile phones and tablets.
We’ve contacted Microsoft for a word on this, so we’ll update the story when and if we get an answer.