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June 7, 2007
Patents at Work
Microsoft
and South Korea-based LG Electronics signed a broad cross-licensing agreement.
The agreement allows LG to use Microsoft patented technology in its Linux-based
embedded devices. The deal was announced late Wednesday.
Nortel Networks, Samsung and Seiko Epson. The net revenue to Microsoft is
relatively negligible, while allowing patent protection for the other companies'
use of Linux. Microsoft does receive the value of harmony and concomitant
freedom to operate without the diversion of nuisance suits, as well as putting
to use its burgeoning patent portfolio which otherwise sits idle.
While the Linux GNU General Public License forbids commercial distribution of
Linux, companies may recoup the costs of media and packaging, as well as selling
documentation and profiting from services to install and maintain Linux
installations. Linux-related revenue is estimated to be $15 billion yearly worldwide.
Posted by Patent Hawk at June 7, 2007 11:38 PM | Patents In Business