), Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents." Google's popular Android software is used on smartphones, tablets, and netbooks. It's open-source software, so developers can create and design programs for free. Drummond further claims that "They banded together to acquire Novell's old patents to make sure Google didn't get them; seeking $15 licensing fees for every Android device; attempting to make it more expensive for phone manufacturers to license Android (which we provide free of charge) than Windows Phone 7; and even suing Barnes & Noble (NYSE:

), and Samsung." Heating up the battle, Microsoft's General Counsel Brad Smith, tweeted Wednesday: "Google says we bought Novell patents to keep them from Google. Really? We asked them to bid jointly with us. They said no." Competition for the lucrative smartphone and tablet computer market has sent the legal departments of many technology companies into overdrive in recent months. Apple and Microsoft are well-know for vigorously defending intellectual property and business rights. Drummond didn't appear rattled in his blog post, stating a company-wide push to drive Google higher. "We're not naive; technology is a tough and ever-changing industry and we work very hard to stay focused on our own business and make better products. But in this instance we thought it was important to speak out and make it clear that we're determined to preserve Android as a competitive choice for consumers, by stopping those who are trying to strangle it."