Microsoft has announced that Motorola Solution, provider of communication solutions and services has signed a patent licensing agreement with them, that covers Microsoft’s patent portfolio for Motorola Solutions’ devices running on Android and Chrome OS. Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003 and has over 1,100 licensing agreements, that includes agreements with companies like Samsung, ZTE, LG, HTC, Acer and most recently Dell.
All these manufacturers have agreed to pay royalties for their products based on Android and Chrome OS, which infringe upon some patents from Microsoft. Financial terms of this agreement was not disclosed like other deals.
Motorola recently agreed to sell the company’s Enterprise business to Zebra Technologies for $3.45 billion, while retaining its iDEN product portfolio. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2014 after regulatory approval. Motorola sold its Mobility business to Google few years back and Google sold it to Lenovo for $2.91 billion earlier this year.
Nick Psyhogeos, general manager, associate general counsel, IP licensing of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft, said,
Microsoft and Motorola Solutions share a respect for intellectual property and a commitment to fair and reasonable patent licensing programs. Microsoft prefers licensing to litigation, since licensing is a more effective way to share technology and accelerate the pace of innovation.
Joe White, vice president of Enterprise Mobile Computing, Motorola Solutions, said
Our Motorola Solutions communications technology works best for everyone when it is backed with robust intellectual property and patents. We are pleased to have agreed upon a solution that allows our customers to purchase Android products from Motorola Solutions with confidence.