Motorola loses appeal to overturn Microsoft patent ruling

Motorola Mobility, which was acquired by Google in 2012, lost a bid to invalidate a Microsoft patent that has to do with mobile calendar syncing. The patent was originally used by Microsoft to win a ban on US imports of some models of Motorola phones, according to Bloomberg.

The patent, which specifically has to do with how calendars sync with computers, was related to Microsoft's ActiveSync software. Motorola tried to argue that the technology in Microsoft's patent was not new, and had been used previously by Apple in its failed Newton digital assistant, according to an opinion (PDF) on the US Court of Appeals' Web site.

"We're disappointed with this decision but pleased with the overall outcome," a spokesman for Motorola Mobility told CNET in a statement. "Microsoft lost on eight of its 'best' patents, and this lone opinion does not impact our ability to build great products that people love."

Updated at 12:28 p.m. PT with Motorola statement.