08 September 2011, 15:50

Acer and ViewSonic do Android patent deal with Microsoft

MSFT and Android icon Microsoft is back doing deals over unspecified patents that it owns and considers Google's Android to infringe. In June, Microsoft made a number of deals, mostly with smaller players in the business. These latest patent deals are with larger companies, specifically Acer and Viewsonic.

Microsoft's corporate VP and deputy general counsel for Intellectual Property and Licensing announced each deal saying “We are pleased that ..." the companies involved "... are taking advantage of our industrywide licensing program established to help companies address Android’s IP issues". As is typical of Microsoft patent deals, no specific patents or details of the terms of the deal were revealed, only that the deal will cover each company's use of Android in smartphones and tablets. According to reports, that may involve paying Microsoft as much as $15 per Android device.

(djwm)

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