.jpg "Microsoft bleeds more Android outfits for patent kickbacks -")
As we have reported before, software giant Microsoft is becoming a big fan of Android as the Linux based operating system has become the happy hunting ground of its patent lawyers. This week it signed shedloads of new deals.
We wrote yesterday that Microsoft's latest target is Wistron. The ODM has signed a patent agreement which "provides broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for Wistron's tablets, mobile phones, e-readers and other consumer devices running the Android or Chrome platform," the Vole wrote in a statement.
Microsoft general counsel Horacio Gutierrez said Microsoft was pleased that Wistron is taking advantage of the licensing program. It is established to help companies "address Android's IP issues".
Microsoft has also announced Android agreements with Velocity Micro, General Dynamics and Onkyo in the last week. That is on top of the patent agreement struck last year with successful smartphone maker HTC.
At the moment it appears that Vole is making more cash out of Android than it does out of its own Windows Phone 7 platform.
It is clear it wants more. Motorola, another major Android device maker, is fighting Microsoft's patent infringement claims in court.
Patent watcher Florian Mueller claims that case is going rather well for the Vole. Microsoft says Motorola infringes on 21 patents, including 19 with Android.
What seems to be happening is that Microsoft is not making a big thing about its IP battles with Android. Gone are the days where Steve Ballmer says Linux is a cancer. What has replaced it is an army of lawyers waiting for something to be successful - and then descending on it armed with tons of patent briefs.
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I see software as a collection of bytes, much like buildings are a collection of bricks. I don't recall seeing buildings patented, although now I've posted this no doubt some IP lawyer will start...
It's that attitude that has destroyed Microsoft.
All Microsoft competitors have used open-source software to fast track successful mobile platforms. If Apple didn't take FreeBSD, or if Google didn't use Linux as the basis of their mobile OSes, they'd be years behind. But instead they leapfrogged Microsoft to get to market quicker.
If Ballmer embraced open-source, he'd have a fast webkit-based browser on his platforms. Instead, he's got Windows Phone which has a browser based on IE7 and is the slowest in the business. No wonder Microsoft is failing n mobile, and must resort to mafia-style patent trolling instead.
The slightly older looking person casually moved his foot forward so that I couldn't close the door and he said: "We are from the Legal Department of Microsoft and we are here to help you!"
Umm!!