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Google NASDAQ:GOOG drops Microsoft NASDAQ:MSFT patent claim

Tuesday Google asked the US International Trade Commission, a federal body that often hears patent disputes, to drop claims that Microsoft was infringing on two patents held by Google’s Motorola Mobility unit.

The ITC claims date back to Y 2010, before Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility.

Last week, as part of an agreement with the US Federal Trade Commission to end an investigation into Google’s potential violations of antitrust law, Google made pledges about how it would handle disputes over “standard essential patents,” or patents that cover broad areas of technology such as how to deliver online video to mobile devices.

In disputes over standard-essential patents, Google agreed to limits on when it could ask a court to block sales of competing companies’ products. There has been a lack of clarity about how the FTC agreement affects existing patent litigation involving Google and companies such as Microsoft.

The 2 patent claims Google asked to drop concern standard essential patents. Google was asking the ITC to block imports of Microsoft’s Xbox videogame console, a move that effectively would have halted Xbox sales in the US.

Google did not say in Tuesday’s ITC filing why it asked to drop the 2 patent claims against Microsoft. As part of the Y 2010 ITC filing, Google is still asking the ITC to intervene in a dispute with Microsoft on 1 Motorola Mobility patent.

Microsoft Deputy General Counsel David Howard said the company was “pleased” Google dropped the two ITC patent claims, and that Microsoft hoped Google would “now withdraw similar claims pending in other jurisdictions as required by the FTC Consent Order.”

The ITC has not responded to a request for comment.