In an interesting and frankly bizarre move, Microsoft has signed a patent agreement with HTC that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for HTC’s mobile phones running the Android mobile platform.
“HTC and Microsoft have a long history of technical and commercial collaboration, and today’s agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercial arrangements that address intellectual property,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HTC.”
HTC is currently under attack from various sources for patent infringement, but the highest profile case has been Apple’s attempt to block HTC from importing its phones into USA. Most of Apple’s claims have been based on the Android software running in most of HTC’s devices.
While under the agreement Microsoft will receive royalty payments from HTC, the development would still appear , in an increasingly litigious market, to remove a major selling point from Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and Windows Phone OS.
Does Microsoft’s decision make sense to our readers? Let us know your thoughts below.
Via MSMobiles.com