Why Microsoft may be relinquishing billions in Android patent royalties

Why Microsoft may be relinquishing billions in Android patent royalties

6 years ago
Anonymous $oIHRkISgaL

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-may-relinquishing-billions-android-patent-royalties-141047213.html

In the early 2000s, Microsoft executives decried FOSS as a “cancer” and “intellectual property destroyer.” Then, in 2007, it declared war on FOSS, alleging that many of its most important commercial manifestations—the Linux operating system, OpenOffice, and, later, Google Android—infringed hundreds of its patents. As recently as 2013 a Nomura analyst estimated that Microsoft was extracting patent royalty streams of around $2 billion a year from makers of Android-running smartphones.  " data-reactid="25">In the early 2000s, Microsoft executives decried FOSS as a “cancer” and “intellectual property destroyer.” Then, in 2007, it declared war on FOSS, alleging that many of its most important commercial manifestations—the Linux operating system, OpenOffice, and, later, Google Android—infringed hundreds of its patents. As recently as 2013 a Nomura analyst estimated that Microsoft was extracting patent royalty streams of around $2 billion a year from makers of Android-running smartphones.  

That chapter is now over. Peace was secured when Microsoft signed a license this month with an obscure organization called the Open Invention Network. " data-reactid="26">That chapter is now over. Peace was secured when Microsoft signed a license this month with an obscure organization called the Open Invention Network.