There are so many patent disputes flying around in the tech world, it’s often hard to keep track of them all -- that is, until they start affecting end users, which is exactly what’s happening in Germany right now. Apple has suspended push email for both iCloud and MobileMe in that country over a patent battle with Motorola.

Engadget is reporting that iCloud and MobileMe users will be unable to have their email pushed to their devices in Germany, at least for a while. Apple has suspended the push email service in that country over “recent patent litigation by Motorola Mobility,” which the report claims is likely tied to “a recent injunction Motorola won against iCloud.”

While push email is one of the start features of both iCloud and MobileMe, Apple seems to be taking a cavalier attitude about the suspension, which doesn’t affect a user’s ability to actually receive email -- they can still check it manually.

“This ruling only impacts customers in Germany who use a Push setting to get their MobileMe and iCloud email,” Apple said in a statement to Engadget. “These customers will still receive email to their devices. Apple believes this patent is invalid and is appealing the decision.”

Push will continue to work for Contacts and Calendars, but a new page on Apple’s support site in Germany recommends that users use the Fetch settings to receive email, which of course also applies for those of us here in America who are planning travel to Germany soon. Mac OS X is also immune from the suspension.

We don’t know about you, but push email is a gem -- could you live without it for a while? (No need to respond if you’re reading this from Germany, of course… you’re already feeling that pain…)

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