Reuters: Technology News: Microsoft, Hon Hai sign patent deal for Android, Chrome devices

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Microsoft, Hon Hai sign patent deal for Android, Chrome devices Apr 17th 2013, 05:56 Tweet Share this Email Print Related News HP aims to revolutionize computers with motion-control technology Tue, Apr 16 2013 CORRECTED-HP aims to revolutionize computers with motion-control technology Tue, Apr 16 2013 Alibaba makes major mobile push with 1 billion yuan fund Mon, Apr 15 2013 Google moves to end EU antitrust probe without fine Thu, Apr 11 2013 Ericsson to buy Microsoft IPTV business Mon, Apr 8 2013 Analysis & Opinion The battle for patent protection Counterparties: The most profitable insurer in America The Microsoft logo is seen at their offices in Bucharest March 20, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Bogdan Cristel TAIPEI | Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:56am EDT TAIPEI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd signed a global patent licensing agreement on Wednesday designed to protect Hon Hai clients from patent claims arising from their use of Google Inc's Android and Chrome operating systems. Google and Microsoft have been locked in patent battles, with Microsoft contending that the systems infringe its software patents. Microsoft has in the past chosen to pursue hardware makers rather than Google itself for royalties. "Foxconn's clients don't need to worry about infringing Microsoft's patents anymore, because Foxconn has signed the agreement for them," said Vincent Shih, chief legal officer of Microsoft Taiwan Corp. Hon Hai is the flagship listed entity of Foxconn Technology Group. Shih said more than 50 percent of the global contract makers that manufacture Android devices, including Hon Hai's local peers, Pegatron Corp, Quanta Computer Inc, Compal Electronics Inc and Wistron Corp, have signed similar agreements with Microsoft. Technology companies are increasingly defending their turf in the courts, seeking penalties for alleged patent and trademark infringements and injunctions to stop product sales. One well-known example is the ongoing legal war between Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd that has taken place in 10 countries as they battle for market share. Brand name companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, HTC Corp, Acer have also settled with Microsoft over their use of Android, but Motorola Mobility, which Google bought last year, is fighting a range of patent issues with Microsoft in courts in the United States and Germany. Hon Hai spokeswoman Laura Liu said the company is also in talks with other software companies on different patent agreements. Hon Hai is Apple's largest manufacturing partner. The group also makes products for Nokia, Dell Inc, Sony Corp, among others. (Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Melanie Lee and Matt Driskill) Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above.

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