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Google plotted to give Motorola early advantage over other Android licensees

In a bid to control the Android platform to derive the most value from it, Google privately outlined a series of policies, including giving early access advantage to Motorola and not developing Android "in the open."

Google's internal presentation was published by the judge overseeing Oracle's Java infringement case, and detailed by Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents. Like the Microsoft monopoly trial a decade ago, Oracle's lawsuit is bringing all kinds of details of Google's secret inner workings into public view.

"Oracle v. Google is a treasure trove of information about Google's Android-related dealings," Mueller observed.

Open after the fact

The presentation slide is titled, "If we gave it away, how can we ensure we get to benefit from it?" and recommends a set of policies that include "Do not develop in the open. Instead, make source code available after innovation is complete."

Google has regularly closed down Android development at every major release, including the tablet-oriented Android 3.0 Honeycomb this spring.

A second bullet point states "lead device concept: Give early access to the software to partners who build and distribute devices to our specification (ie, Motorola and Verizon). They get a non-contractual time to market advantage and in return they align to our standard."

Mueller also cited a declaration by Oracle stating, "I understand that Google participates in the design and build of some device makers' handsets, and provides the final Android build to the OEM."

Mueller himself notes that "is not like they simply publish the Android codebase on the Internet. According to Oracle, they 'participate in the design and build of [...] handsets.'

"Can you imagine that a company like Samsung, HTC, LG or Sony could still trust Google in this regard if Google actually competes with them through a subsidiary [of Motorola Mobility]?"

He adds that the policy "removes whatever little doubt anyone had left that Google certainly plays favorites with certain Android OEMs, and if the MMI deal goes through, it will play favorites with only one: its own subsidiary, of course."

Despite public assurances that Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility would have no impact on how the company works with other Android licensees, and public statements by Google's partners that they are happy to be "protected" by Google, individual licensees have made plans to protect their own interests.

Most notably, Samsung's executives have initiated a plan to strengthen the company's own Bada platform and hire software development talent.



138 Comments

absolutedesignz 14 Years · 1930 comments

they mean the nexus project and other major version releases (original Droid and the Xoom)

I didn't think this was secret. in fact I expected something big to be revealed here.

I am disappoint.

blastdoor 16 Years · 3663 comments

Android is well and truly screwed, and from so many directions. apple's patent claims are small potatoes compared to oracle's and to the anti-trust and just anti-partner (not illegal, but not smart) actions that google has taken. And yet apple's claims are still serious -- just small compared to those other larger threats.

king of beige 14 Years · 178 comments

So Google has been lying all along?

Such poor behavior for a once admired Google.

steven n. 14 Years · 1229 comments

ie Motorola and Verizon.

It could have just as easily said ie. Samsung and T-Mobile. Basically, if you develop and include the Google services as Google wants, you get preferencial treatment. This would include companies like Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Verizon, Sprint, T Mobile and many others. I think this was well understood.

dm3 19 Years · 168 comments

Typical opinionated slanted story from Daniel. How about just the facts without such a pro-Apple agenda?

Slide essentially says Google will give preference to those who will follow their design closely. They've clearly done this in the past with the Nexus series of phones, first HTC, now Samsung. Using Motorola next time doesn't seem unreasonable.

Certainly pales in comparison to how Apple controls the entire process.