Google and a Motorola Mobility unit have been ordered by a US judge to turn over details relating to the development of Android to Apple. Along with it, Google is to hand over information about Google’s pending $12.5 billion acquisition of Moto.
According to Bloomberg, U.S. Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner made the decision yesterday as part of a patent lawsuit filed by Apple in 2010. Speaking before the ruling, one of Motorola’s attorneys said:
“Google’s employees and documents are not within the ‘possession, custody, or control’ of Motorola, and Motorola cannot force Google to produce documents or witnesses over Google’s objections.”
Well, that didn’t quite work out. It will be interesting to see what comes out of the case, especially given that it’s not currently clear exactly how much detail has been requested. [Blooomberg]
