Corporations cannot commit treason, nor be outlawed, nor excommunicated, for they have no souls - Sir Edward Coke
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Microsoft signs up Wistron and eyes Samsung for Android licenses
SOFTWARE LICENCE FLOGGER Microsoft is doing rather well out of Google's Android, managing to snap up another company to make money from Google's operating system.
The Vole has announced that Wistron, a firm that designs and manufacturers devices for other companies, signed a licensing deal to use its patents that allegedly apply to Google's Android operating system. The deal means that Microsoft has managed to flog 'Android licences' to four companies.
Last month Microsoft announced that it had signed up US defence contractor General Dynamics Itronix and last week it revealed that audio-visual equipment maker Onkyo had also licensed its patents. Add to that Velocity Micro, Wistron and smartphone maker HTC all paying Microsoft to use Android and it seems the Redmond firm is making Android work for it, despite having written none of the software.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel tweeted, "Our Wistron deal today makes for four Android patent license agreements in nine days. (No need to calculate pi to figure that one out.)" The reference to pi was Google's highest bid in last week's auction of Nortel's patent portfolio.
Now Reuters has reported that Microsoft is going for the big one, Samsung, asking the firm to pay $15 for every Android device it makes. If Microsoft manages to pull this off, it could generate a very significant chunk of revenue thanks to the popularity of Samsung's Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Samsung also makes Windows Phone 7 (WP7) smartphones, for which it pays WP7 operating system licensing fees to Microsoft.
Microsoft has claimed that Android is not free for device manufacturers and that buying licences to use Google's mobile operating system is the only way to avoid litigation over possible patent infringements.
The Vole has already sued US bookstore Barnes and Noble and Chinese manufacturer Foxconn over the use of Android on the popular Nook ebook reader, and it seems that more Android device makers are signing up, believing it might be prudent not to end up mired in legal battles with Microsoft's lawyers.
There is a fair amount of irony attached to Microsoft's Android licensing deals. Google doesn't make a penny from its Android operating system directly, and it appears likely that Microsoft is making more money from licensing patents for Android devices than it is from flogging WP7. µ
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In every country the US senators go, first thing want is protection for their Intellectual property. In may seem a harmless thing but the irony comes when it comes to US companies patenting everything, whether it was centuries old art or food growing methods. If Netscape was not a US company, US Justice department would not have gone against Microsoft. It is protecting US rights and robbing the rest of the world.
So, Android is open-source, and Microsoft has had a look at the code and is threatening people with alleged infringements of its IP and/or patents, aka: an extortion racket. For all we know, Microsoft is paying these other Android-using companies to sign PR-worthy "patent protection" licenses.
Should not Microsoft also be asked to disclose the source code of its operating systems and other products that "may" be related to this issue? They have had a look at the open Android code, so it would seem only reasonable to let Google and friends have a look at their closed-source code to see if it infringes on THEIR IP, patents, etc.
If this kind of extortion racket is allowed to continue, eventually Microsoft (or they buddy/enemy Apple) could threaten everyone for using "patented" gestures or motions when they walk around or pinch their fingers together. Or even for marketing a product that bears only a passing resemblance to one of their own...oh wait, Apple already did that ... nevermind.
anyone would try cash in on patents if they thought they stood a chance. i just hope samsung and lg stay clear of windows mobile 7. makes for an interesting market when you sue your customer who are also your supplier and additionally a competitor.
Personally I think the patent system should be scrapped, it's a huge growth inhibitor, and the only ones who are really protected by the system, have an army of lawyers as you put it.
What are the patents and how did vole acquire them?