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Microsoft ropes in LG in Android patent licensing deal

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LG now signs an agreement with Microsoft for protection from lawsuits concerning Android and Chrome OS

With a recent patent announcement the Korean electronics company LG and Microsoft has come to a conclusion with LG, signing a patent licensing agreement for protection from lawsuits concerning Android and Chrome OS.

Similar agreements are made by Microsoft with 10 other companies which include big names as Samsung, HTC, Acer, Quanta and Wistron. A small cut from each Android phone or tablet manufactured by the license is earned by the big M.

The agreement with LG covers LG phones, tablets and any device that features Android and Chrome OS. However the exact amount of money earned by Microsoft is not disclosed.

According to Horacio Gutierrez, deputy general counsel of the Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft, the agreement means more than 70percent of all Android devices sold in the US are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. He also added that they are proud of the continued success of their program in resolving the IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome OS.

Motorola Mobility and Barnes & Noble are still in battle with Microsoft in court over the same issue. Barnes & Noble earlier said in a letter to US Justice Department that Microsoft is embarking on a campaign of asserting trivial and outmoded patents against manufacturers of Android devices. 

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Pallab Jyotee Hazarika, 2012-01-13 (Update: 2012-05-26)