Friday, February 10, 2006
Microsoft To Protect Its Device Makers From Visto Suit
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "NEWS" @ 07:00 AM
http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=179102774&subSection=Operating+Systems
"Amid a legally charged environment for makers of mobile computing devices, Microsoft said Thursday it would expand the protections against intellectual property lawsuits it offers to manufacturers who make devices that run Windows. Microsoft lifted caps on the amount of legal fees it would reimburse to makers of embedded devices that are sued for intellectual property infringement as a result of licensing Microsoft code. The amount had previously been capped based on Microsoft's volume of business with a device maker that licensed its embedded operating systems. Microsoft also said it would indemnify device makers against trade-secrets lawsuits, in addition to patent, copyright, and trademark suits."
It has been a few months since Visto sued Microsoft over patent infringment, claiming Microsoft's Exchange Server ActiveSync/Windows Mobile 5 mechanism to sync email with devices wirelessly violates one or more Visto patents. This is the first news I've heard from Microsoft since the suit was announced and it seems the gloves are off. Not only are they ready for battle, they are totally shielding their OEM partners from legal expenses.
"Amid a legally charged environment for makers of mobile computing devices, Microsoft said Thursday it would expand the protections against intellectual property lawsuits it offers to manufacturers who make devices that run Windows. Microsoft lifted caps on the amount of legal fees it would reimburse to makers of embedded devices that are sued for intellectual property infringement as a result of licensing Microsoft code. The amount had previously been capped based on Microsoft's volume of business with a device maker that licensed its embedded operating systems. Microsoft also said it would indemnify device makers against trade-secrets lawsuits, in addition to patent, copyright, and trademark suits."
It has been a few months since Visto sued Microsoft over patent infringment, claiming Microsoft's Exchange Server ActiveSync/Windows Mobile 5 mechanism to sync email with devices wirelessly violates one or more Visto patents. This is the first news I've heard from Microsoft since the suit was announced and it seems the gloves are off. Not only are they ready for battle, they are totally shielding their OEM partners from legal expenses.
