We’re seeing a heavy surge in Microsoft’s relentless pursuit of licensing deals in light of latest patent-infringement claims . Wistron Corp , a by-product of Acer, is the most recent company to make an agreement with Microsoft in a string of lawsuits and royalty clashes that’s spanned the process two months. While we have seen Android suppliers akin to Itronix and Velocity Micro come to agreements with the folk in Redmond, in addition to others like Motorola and Barnes & Noble becoming courtroom fodder, here is the primary time Chrome OS was targeted. Wistron’s an ODM (original design manufacturer) that supplies other companies with computers, tablets and e-readers using either Google OS, so it isn’t necessarily a surprise that it signed up for the Microsoft lawsuit prevention plan. Scant details are available in other than the truth that royalties would be collected consequently. Now that Chrome is involved, it not just shows that Team Ballmer isn’t backing down, apparently to have much more companies in its crosshairs — we just wonder who’s next at the list. Full (albeit brief) PR after the break.
REDMOND, Wash., and TAIPEI, Taiwan – July 5, 2011 – Microsoft Corp. and Wistron Corp. have executed a patent agreement that gives broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for Wistron’s tablets, cell phones, e-readers and other consumer devices running the Android or Chrome platform. Although the contents of the agreement haven’t been disclosed, the parties indicate that Microsoft will receive royalties from Wistron under the agreement.
“We’re pleased that Wistron is profiting from our industrywide licensing program, established to assist companies address Android’s IP issues,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vp and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft.
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