Motorola Mobility smartphones face US import ban

05-19-2012 • http://phys.org, AFP

The ruling issued by the International Trade Commission (ITC) on Friday will take effect in late July if President Barack Obama does not overrule it.

"The Commission has issued a limited exclusion order directed to the infringing products of Motorola and has terminated the investigation," the ITC said in a written decision.

The ITC ruling put pressure on Motorola Mobility to cut a licensing deal with Microsoft instead of risk product shipping delays that could stem from removing the patented technology, which related to scheduling meetings.

Microsoft said in a released statement that it was pleased with the ITC decision and hoped that Motorola will "join the vast majority of Android device makers selling phones in the US by taking a license to our patents."

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft filed its complaint with the ITC in late 2010. Motorola phone models affected included RAZR and Droid 4S.