The Redmond software giant today disclosed it has entered into a deal with Korea’s LG to license several of its OS system patents for its smartphones running Chrome and Android. Terms of the patent licensing were not revealed.
LG relies heavily on the Android OS for its mobile products and its participation at the Las Vegas CES event held earlier this week showed off the company’s latest flagship smartphone, the LG Spectrum. To be launched later this January, the Spectrum will run on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread flavor out of the box but is upgradeable to Google’s latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Microsoft products are increasingly being ported on the mobile platform that included Linux, inking deals with Linux gadget markets such as Casio. It is only natural for Android and Chrome to be its next target. But the LG deal is not entirely new as Microsoft had stuck similar deals in the Android universe.
In a statement made by Horacio Gutierrez, corporate VP and vice-general counsel Microsoft, he said that LG joints its previous 10 other agreements for Chrome OS on the Android with noted Android handset manufactures like HTC, Acer and Samsung. He adds: “We are pleased to have built upon our longstanding relationship with LG to reach a mutually beneficial agreement…this agreement with LG means that more than 70 percent of all Android smartphones sold in the U.S. are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. We are proud of the continued success of our program in resolving the IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome OS.”
The software giant holds a score of OS patents arguing that both Chrome and Android and Chrome OS violate some of these patents. But rather than haul alleged offenders to court in expensive lawsuits on either side, Microsoft had offered handset makers the opportunity to license its patents for a win-win relationship. Apart from the big names that already inked deals with Microsoft, other smaller handset makers are expected to follow soon, according to Gutierrez.
But not every smartphone maker agrees. Motorola has contested Microsoft’s claims in the U.S. International Trade Commission, but rather unsuccessfully. Last month, a preliminary ruling by the ITC affirmed that Motorola was in violation of certain Microsoft patents. Should this become final, Motorola has to withdraw any infringing feature on its smartphones or enter into licensing.
