Motorola Mobility smartphones face US import ban

SAN FRANCISCO — A US commission on Friday sided with Microsoft by moving to ban the import of Android-powered Motorola smartphones based on patent infringement complaints by the software colossus.

The ruling issued by the International Trade Commission (ITC) will take effect in late July if President Barack Obama does not overrule it.

“The Commission has issued a limited exclusion order directed to the infringing products of Motorola and has terminated the investigation,” the ITC said in a written decision.

The ITC ruling put pressure on Motorola Mobility to cut a licensing deal with Microsoft instead of risk product shipping delays that could stem from removing the patented technology, which related to scheduling meetings.

Microsoft said in a released statement that it was pleased with the ITC decision and hoped that Motorola will “join the vast majority of Android device makers selling phones in the US by taking a license to our patents.”

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft filed its complaint with the ITC in late 2010. Motorola phone models affected included RAZR and Droid 4S.

Motorola claimed a partial victory in the dispute, since the ITC only sided with Microsoft on one of nine patents at issue in the complaint.

“Although we are disappointed by the Commission’s ruling that certain Motorola Mobility products violated one patent, we look forward to reading the full opinion to understand its reasoning,” the company said in a release.

“We will explore all options, including appeal.”

Motorola added that it did not expect the ITC decision affect it in the near term.