MADA
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If you want to make an Android phone with Google, here are some of the rules
Before large (and even larger) sums of money were asked of Samsung and Apple, the legal brawl between the pair kept dragging a third party, Google, into the discussion. A big part of this was the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) between the internet company and Samsung which laid out how the latter would support the former in patent claims. Now the spotlights on this agreement, with a recent class action suit claiming that parts violate antitrust laws. Recode's uploaded the agreements between Samsung, HTC and Google, which touch on some of the rules of making an Android smartphone.
Google offered to help Samsung with Apple patent battle costs
Confirming what a lot of us thought already, Google is more than a little interested in Apple and Samsung's continuing court battle. New evidence revealed by Apple's lawyers outlines emails from Google that offered to foot some of the damages (if Samsung lost), as well as cover part of the legal costs in the current trial. This would cover two of the five patents that Apple is fighting over. Google lawyer James Maccoun confirmed that it would help Samsung as part of the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement, the framework that allows Samsung to use Google-made apps on its Android devices. According to Maccoun's taped deposition: "As I read it, Google's essentially offering to defend Samsung to the MADA and does offer to defend some [patent] claims."
