Microsoft inks patent licensing deal with Foxconn covering Android, Chrome devices

April 17, 2013

Microsoft has signed up another major electronics manufacturer to its Android and Chrome patent licensing program, this time Taiwan's Foxconn, which will pay royalties to the U.S. software giant. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it covers Foxconn manufactured devices running the Android and Chrome operating systems, including smartphones, tablets and televisions, Microsoft said on Tuesday. Foxconn is just the latest contract manufacturer to sign up for Microsoft's Android and Chrome patent licensing program, despite the fact that Google developed the two operating systems. Both Android and Chrome use its technologies, according to Microsoft, and in the past the U.S. software giant has sued Android vendors over alleged patent infringement. In 2011, Microsoft filed a lawsuit against Barnes & Nobles, along with one of Foxconn's manufacturing companies, for running patent infringing software on its Android-based Nook e-reader. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2035385/microsoft-signs-patent-licensing-deal-with-foxconn-covering-android-chrome-devices.html#tk.rss_all