As Apple's legal tussles with rival Samsung appear to have plateaued, so reports suggest Android favourite Motorola is close to victory in another battle.

Bloomberg claims the firm – which is to be acquired by Google for $12.5 billion – is likely to win its iCloud and MobileMe focused case against Apple in Germany, with Motorola alleging both products' use of mail sycchronisation infringes on one of its patents.

Show me the money

It's a defeat Apple believes could cost the company billions in lost sales.

German courts require the prosecution to pay any damages incurred to the defendant while they are on appeal - damages Apple pegs at $2.7 billion.  However, Andreas Voss - the presiding judge at the hearing - isn't totally convinced the amount offers a fair representation.

"I am not yet entirely sure that amount adequately mirrors the commercial value of this dispute," he said.

"The technology isn't a standard and there are alternative ways to provide the same services."

The potential loss to Motorola follows another legal defeat to Spanish tablet manufacturer Nuevas Tecnologías y Energías Catalá, with IP expert Florian Mueller of Foss Patents having described Apple's decision to take its case against the firm to court as "outrageous" and "totally unreasonable".

[source: Bloomberg]