Oooooooooohh SNAP. I have a feeling things are about to get real ugly in the Google vs Apple patent saga. The US judge presiding over an Apple patent lawsuit against Google and Motorola has apparently ordered Google to turn over information about Android development directly to Apple, with Apple arguing that “The Android/Motorola acquisition discovery is highly relevant to Apple’s claims and defenses”. And apparently, this judge means business, stating that “Motorola shall be expected to obtain full and immediate compliance by Google with Apple’s liability discovery demands“.

U.S. Federal Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner handed this verdict down in Chicago yesterday, and was the result of a countersuit from Motorola made back in 2010. Not only that, but Google and Motorola must also hand over information about Google's 12 billion dollar purchase of the handset maker directly to Apple as well.

This is getting really crazy, and it's only the beginning. Judge Posner has scheduled multiple back to back trials all with seperate juries beginning on June 11th. The first will address six Apple patents, and the second will cover three of Motorola's patents.

Google and Motorola's response?:

“Google’s employees and documents are not within the ‘possession, custody, or control’ of Motorola, and Motorola cannot force Google to produce documents or witnesses over Google’s objections“, which pretty much translates as "$!@€ off!“ in the tech world. Considering that Google isn't actually a party to the lawsuit, the request seems reasonable, but only time will tell if it does to the judge.

Goolge spokeswoman Niki Fenwick responded in an email saying that Google wouldn't comment beyond what was submitted in court papers.

Picture credits: newmediadl.cas.msu.edu