Two more Android manufacturers sign patent agreements with Microsoft

[Master Devwi]

Microsoft has signed numerous patent agreements with Android manufactures over the last year, protecting them from patent infringement lawsuits in exchange for royalties from device sales. Microsoft announced on Monday that two more Android manufacturers, Aluratek Inc. and Coby Electronics Corporation, have joined this growing list of licensees.

With today’s announcement, Microsoft now reportedly earns undisclosed royalties – often rumored at around $5 per device – on more than 70% of all Android devices sold in the US. This includes smartphones and tablets running Android or the Chrome Platform (i.e. Chrome OS) from major manufacturers like HTC, Samsung, and even Amazon.

How do you feel about the majority of manufacturers paying Microsoft royalties for every Android or Chrome OS device sold?

[Microsoft News Center | Microsoft News Center]

[CrowdAds]

[Marvin the Martian]

It seems like a much more adult manner of doing things than Apple and their incessant lawsuits.

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

It seems like a much more adult manner of doing things than Apple and their incessant lawsuits.

I agree,...less stupidity & more innovation.

[WalkGood]

Originally Posted by Master Devwi

... How do you feel about the majority of manufacturers paying Microsoft royalties for every Android or Chrome OS device sold?

As long as it drives MSFT back over the 33 range I'm good with it

[kp-j3]

I'm not sure paying protection money fosters innovation. But I guess then you don't get your devices banned.

[nathan]

Originally Posted by kp-j3

I'm not sure paying protection money fosters innovation. But I guess then you don't get your devices banned.

More likely you don't have a giant gorilla constantly suing you and coasting your company tens or 100 millions of dollars in legal fees. If you are a small company unfortunately it makes sense/is a necessity to take a dollar or two hit per device to avoid legal conflict. Large companies squeeze money out of smaller companies all the time. That's one of the reasons why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer resulting in less competition for the larger companies and less choice for consumers. There are large companies out there that are an exception to this rule but Microsoft is not.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by kp-j3

I'm not sure paying protection money fosters innovation. But I guess then you don't get your devices banned.

Yeah, these patents have basically become a way for the established players to make sure they don't have to compete too hard for their profits.

[Olley]

Makes me wonder if it would be possible to create a tablet WITHOUT having to license anything from anyone. Used to be all you had to do was make your product an improvement over the previously patented.