By Stevie Smith Apr 19, 2007, 17:13 GMT
Microsoft Corporation and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd have this week confirmed that they have entered into a “broad patent cross-licensing agreement” which will result in South Korea-based Samsung obtaining access to Microsoft’s patent to be implemented throughout a range of Samsung’s existing and future product lines. Similarly, American software giant Microsoft will be granted access to Samsung’s considerable portfolio of digital media and computer-related patents, also for addition to future Microsoft products.
Samsung, which already holds the status of the largest publisher of U.S. patents during 2006, and is also the proud owner of one of the most substantial known U.S. patent lists, will be profiting from the two-way deal thanks to the introduction of Microsoft patents in products equipped with proprietary software such as set-top boxes, digital media players, camcorders, televisions, printers, and various other home devices. Samsung will also benefit by obtaining coverage from Microsoft for its customers’ use of selected Linux-based products.
“Offering customers elegant, highly desirable products requires advanced scientific research and design inspiration,” commented Shung Hyun (Peter) Cho, senior VP of the Digital Media R&D Centre at Samsung Electronics. “Patent collaboration agreements like this expand access to ideas and lead to even more desirable products for our customers.”
The financial aspects of the high-profile cross-patent deal have not been divulged by either party, except to note that both Microsoft and Samsung will be graced with monetary payments providing compensation as per the value (unreleased) of their respective patent portfolios.
“We are always looking for new opportunities to work collaboratively within the industry, and Samsung was a natural fit, particularly because of its leadership in the rapidly changing world of digital media technologies,” enthused Horacio Gutierrez, VP of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. “Companies that collaborate are in the best position to deliver the products and service that their customers demand.”
This cross-patent partnership is not the first to be forged by Redmond, WA-based Microsoft Corp., with the software behemoth already having penned similar deals with a range of other companies to “build bridges with an array of consumer electronics, telecommunications, computer hardware, and Linux and UNIX platform providers.” Over the course of the last year, Microsoft has also signed deals with Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd., NEC, Nortel, Novell Inc., and the Seiko Epson Corporation.
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PaulApr 19th, 2007 - 18:10:33
WRONG! 'This cross-patent partnership is not the first to be forged by California-based Microsoft Corp.' CORRECTION: Redmond, WA Where has this author been?
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