Google must work hard to convince its partner manufacturers that its new relationship with Motorola will not compromise its others.  Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Google’s always been happy to stay in the software business, which has suited gadget companies just fine. They’ve all benefited from Google’s willingness to license Android to anyone. But today’s announcement that the tech titan plans to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings will make them wonder if Google is about to start playing favorites.

A lot of companies — HTC chief among them — have profited nicely with handsets running Google’s fre...

A federal judge has ordered that Facebook should get access to what it calls the “smoking gun” in the strange saga of a New Yorker who claims to own more than half of the social networking giant based on a contract that Facebook says is a forgery.

Both parties agree that Mark Zuckerberg signed a contract in 2003 with Paul Ceglia, the would-be heir-apparent to Facebook, to do some freelance programming work. But in 2010, Ceglia filed suit, produced a copy of the contract that also included a $1000 investment in “The Page Book” entitling him to half of Facebook. Facebook charges that Ceglia, who ...