News · 28 Apr 2010 · MTW Editorial Team
No you aren’t dreaming and this is for really. Microsoft has just announced that it has signed a patent agreement with HTC letting the Taiwanese company use Microsoft’s patented technology found in Android. To make it simple: Microsoft’s is claiming that Android infringes on several of their patents so HTC decided to license those patents to continue to build Android handsets. This means that Microsoft is now gatting paid for every Android phone build by HTC:
REDMOND, Wash. — April 27, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. and HTC Corp. have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for HTC’s mobile phones running the Android mobile platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties from HTC.
The agreement expands HTC’s long-standing business relationship with Microsoft.
“HTC and Microsoft have a long history of technical and commercial collaboration, and today’s agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercial arrangements that address intellectual property,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HTC.”
According to Microsoft deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez :
“Microsoft has a decades-long record of investment in software platforms. As a result, we have built a significant patent portfolio in this field, and we have a responsibility to our customers, partners, and shareholders to ensure that competitors do not free ride on our innovations. We have also consistently taken a proactive approach to licensing to resolve IP infringement by other companies, and have been talking with several device manufacturers to address our concerns relative to the Android mobile platform.”
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