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Microsoft Hints that Android May Infringe On Its Patents

Apr 28, 2010, 12:18 PM by Eric M. Zeman

Today Microsoft and HTC announced a new intellectual property licensing agreement. HTC has agreed to license some of Microsoft's patents for its Android devices. Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft, issued a statement this afternoon that clarifies Microsoft's position on why the companies took this course of action. He said, "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." Rather than sue Google and HTC for patent infringement (as Apple has), Microsoft has taken the licensing approach. With this statement, Microsoft has effectively put all Android handset makers on notice that there could be intellectual property issues to be resolved. Microsoft and HTC haven't explained what patents were licensed, and Microsoft didn't elaborate on which technologies it believes Android infringes upon.

source: Microsoft

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Comments

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This forum is closed.

bluecoyote

Apr 28, 2010, 1:09 PM

Uh of Course Microsoft Isn't Going To Sue HTC

HTC is a Microsoft hardware partner. 🤣

By the way HTC- you should've bought Palm. This is only going to get worse.

Amarantamin

If Microsoft sued HTC, they would in a sense be teaming up with Apple. Not going to happen.

🤤

...

Rich Brome

Why not?

HTC used to manufacture Microsoft phones exclusively. Now HTC makes Android phones, too. In fact, HTC's hottest new phones at the moment are Android models. Microsoft's can't be thrilled about HTC shifting to a competing platform.

Micro...
(continues)

...

Amarantamin

Apr 28, 2010, 3:31 PM

Just Rediculous

Everytime anything that seems like competition appears, Microsoft (and Apple) hire lawyers to scrutinize it and find any little thing they can sue for to try to shut it down. Accept some competition.

Admit that another company came out with something better than you did first, instead of picking out the one or two things that are kind-of similar to what you did. Instead of whining about it, get your teams together and design something better... Or, is that too difficult?

bluecoyote

No that's not how innovation works. If Company A innovates, Company B needs to innovate and come up with something better. Then Company A works harder. Etc. etc.

What's happening now is Company A is innovating, Company B just rips it off. Company A...
(continues)

muchdrama

Amarantamin said:
Everytime anything that seems like competition appears, Microsoft (and Apple) hire lawyers to scrutinize it and find any little thing they can sue for to try to shut it down. Accept some competition.

Admit tha

...
(continues)

Jhawk

Apr 28, 2010, 4:12 PM

Confused much???

"Today HTC announced that Microsoft has given it permission to use some of its intellectual property in HTC handsets that use the Android platform rather than Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform."...Posted today on Er Um Phonescoop??

So did Microsoft grant HTC licensing agreements or are they suing them?

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