Microsoft files EU competition claim against Motorola Mobility

Microsoft Corp. said it filed a complaint with the European Union's competition authority saying Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. is attempting to block sales of personal computers and game consoles that run its software.

Motorola Mobility is violating a pledge to license industry-standard patents on fair terms, and is “demanding that Microsoft take its products off the market,” Microsoft said in a blog post. Apple Inc. filed a similar complaint to the EU over Motorola Mobility's licensing terms.

“Earlier today, Microsoft filed a formal competition law complaint with the European Commission against Motorola Mobility,” Microsoft said. “We have taken this step because Motorola is attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, our Xbox game console and other products.”

Motorola Mobility, Microsoft, Samsung Electronics Co., and Apple are involved in numerous patent lawsuits in Europe as demand for smartphones and tablets soar. The EU actions center on whether companies have fairly licensed patents that are based on common industry standards.

A phone message for Gemma Priscott, the European spokeswoman for Motorola Mobility, wasn't immediately returned.

Google Inc., which is buying Libertyville-based Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, has pledged to reassure standards organizations that it will license Motorola Mobility patents on a fair and reasonable basis.