Microsoft has taken Google to court in a patent battle that could potentially see Google Maps banned in Germany.
TechCrunch reports Microsoft’s European Patent Office patent EP0845124 covers a “computer system for identifying local resources and method”.
The patent was both applied for and issued in 1996 and is now being used by Microsoft in an ongoing series of patent litigation lawsuits against Google and its Motorola Mobility subsidiary.
According to FOSS Patents, Matthias Zigann of the Munich I Regional Court is interpreting the patent broadly to cover any combination of search results and electronic maps.
In the case, Microsoft seeks to win an injunction against the Google Maps service, the Google Maps Android client app, and web browsers providing access to Google Maps in Germany.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
