Motorola Announces Favorable Ruling in German Court, Apple's 3G Banned

Reports are Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) had violated a 3G related patent and the verdict in a German court was definitive. The country has now placed a ban on all of Apple's 3G devices, including iPhones and iPads (basically any model pre-dating iPhone 4).

Apple does have a few choices...either license the patent to avoid the ban (most logical selection), or change designs to go around it (not so likely).

One report said that Apple's defense was partially based on the premise that Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI) was violating FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) patent licensing rules, but the court said FRAND for past damages would allow companies to violate patents knowing they could get about the same deal or better than if they had licensed something properly in the first place.

Motorola is one of only a few companies to win in court against Apple, and there are no other current bans in place. However, it's highly likely that Apple appeals.

Motorola Mobility is in a deal to be acquired by Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)

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