Microsoft and Samsung Electronics have announced a patent cross-licensing agreement that will see each company’s patents being used in both companies’ products, according to a report in PMA International’s Newsline.

 

April 20, 2007: Microsoft and Samsung Electronics have announced a patent cross-licensing agreement that will see each company’s patents being used in both companies’ products, according to a report in PMA International’s Newsline.
The agreement will enable Samsung to gain access to Microsoft patents that can be applied in Samsung’s current and future products across a broad area that includes digital cameras, computer products, digital media players, camcorders, TV sets and printers. It is expected these patents will enable Samsung’s products to interface more smoothly with Microsoft’s software. Samsung will also obtain sanction from Microsoft for its customers’ use of certain Linux-based products.
Microsoft will gain access to Samsung’s large patent portfolio relating to digital media and computer-based inventions. This will cover both current and future products. In the past 12 months, Microsoft has announced similar agreements with companies such as Fuji Xerox, NEC, Nortel, Novell, and Seiko Epson.