Microsoft cast the first stone in October 2010, and made its FRAND allegations in November 2010 [1]. Google announced its acquisition of Motorola in August 2011 [2] and completed it in May 2012 [3]. This decision comes more than a year after the close.

Granted, regulatory concerns did not allow it to affect the lawsuit until the acquisition closed (other than maybe the extreme measure of abandoning the acquisition itself)... But a year is a long time -- and many, many settlement opportunities -- to pursue a lawsuit to its bitter end, especially with all the disapproving judgements they were getting [1]. I think "evil" is a stupid term used too readily around these parts, but I also think a year is more than enough time for Google to bear responsibility for this.

Essentially, Google decided to bear the negative publicity (if any) of being convicted of pursuing unfair business practices rather than settle with Microsoft.

Judgements of "evilness" aside, given that Google is pretty savvy about its public perception, this probably has a few significant implications.

1. http://www.patentprogress.org/cases/microsoft-v-motorola-inc...

2. http://investor.google.com/releases/2011/0815.html

3. http://investor.google.com/releases/2012/0522.html