UPDATE (10/23/11):
Wow! Yet another announcement – this time from Taiwan’s Compal:
Today Microsoft announced its tenth license agreement providing coverage under our patent portfolio for Android mobile phones and tablets. Today’s agreement is with Compal, one of the world’s largest Original Design Manufacturers, or ODM. Compal is based in Taiwan, where it produces smartphones and tablet computers for third parties and has revenue of roughly $28 billion per year.
Today’s announcement marks Microsoft’s ninth Android agreement in the last four months. More important, today’s announcement means that companies accounting for over half of all Android devices have now entered into patent license agreements with Microsoft.
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- October 23rd, 2011
Microsoft’s New Patent Agreement with Compal: A New Milestone for Our Android Licensing Program
UPDATE (9/29/11):
Whoops! There goes another rubber tree plant! An even BIGGER announcement – dare I say, the biggest one could imagine!
Microsoft announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., to cross-license the patent portfolios of both companies, providing broad coverage for each company’s products. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties for Samsung’s mobile phones and tablets running the Android mobile platform. In addition, the companies agreed to cooperate in the development and marketing of Windows Phone.
“Microsoft and Samsung see the opportunity for dramatic growth in Windows Phone and we’re investing to make that a reality,” said Andy Lees, president, Windows Phone Division, Microsoft. “Microsoft believes in a model where all our partners can grow and profit based on our platform.”
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- Sept. 28, 2011:
Microsoft and Samsung Broaden Smartphone Partnership
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ORIGINAL POST (9/28/11):
Big announcement on Sept 20th:
Microsoft Corp. and Casio Computer Co. Ltd. have entered into a broad, multiyear patent cross-licensing agreement that, among other things, will provide Casio’s customers with patent coverage for their use of Linux in certain Casio devices. This licensing agreement is an extension of the long-standing relationship between the two companies; Casio utilizes a wide variety of Microsoft software for its products, including its industrial handheld terminals and business information systems. Although the details of the licensing agreement are confidential, the parties acknowledge that Microsoft is being compensated by Casio.
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I’m a big fan of Casio’s and I hope this could mean greater collaboration between them and Microsoft without the messiness of patent issues. I just love their consumer grade rapid shot cameras. Makes it so easy to take photos of the little one who’s always on the move!
Incidentally, here’s the patent agreements between Microsoft and users of Linux that have been announced to date near as I’ve been able to track: (Emphasis is mine)
- Nov 2nd, 2006:
Microsoft and Novell Announce Broad Collaboration on Windows and… - Mar 22, 2007:
Fuji Xerox and Microsoft Announce Broad Patent Agreement- The.. - June 6th, 2007:
Microsoft and LG Electronics Announce Broad Patent-Licensing… - Jul 15th, 2009:
Melco Group Signs Linux Software Patent Agreement With Microsoft - Feb 22nd, 2010:
Microsoft and Amazon.com Sign Patent Agreement- Agreement covers a… - April 27th, 2010:
Microsoft Announces Patent Agreement With HTC– Agreement will… - June 27th, 2011:
Microsoft and General Dynamics Itronix Sign Patent Agreement - July 5th, 2011:
Microsoft and Wistron Sign Patent Agreement- Agreement will cover… - Sept 8th, 2011:
Microsoft and ViewSonic Sign Patent Agreement- Agreement will… - Sept 8th, 2011:
Microsoft and Acer Sign Patent License Agreement- Agreement will… - Sept 20th, 2011:
Microsoft and Casio Sign Patent Agreement- Agreement provides…
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