Microsoft is well known for its enthusiastic stance on patent infringement, having gathered a royalty payment base currently consisting of over 11 companies using the Android OS.
Barnes & Noble, which uses the OS for its Nook devices, has appealed to US courts to end the Redmond-based company's patent collection for Android devices.
Touché
"Microsoft is embarking on a campaign of asserting trivial and outmoded patents against manufacturers of Android devices," read a letter from Barnes & Noble to the U.S. Justice Department's chief counsel for competition policy.
"Microsoft is attempting to raise its rivals' costs in order to drive out competition and to deter innovation in mobile devices."
In a fairly nonchalant manner, Microsoft replied "We would be pleased to extend a license to Barnes & Noble."
Infringe this
Recently Chinese telecoms firm Huawei confirmed that Microsoft had approached it demanding royalty payments.
It's thought that Microsoft maintains control over 55 percent of the Android ODM market by revenue, and 53 percent of Android OEMs by units shipped.
Indeed, analysts asymco found that the Google OS generates more money for Microsoft than its own Windows Phone.
A trial is due to take place between Barnes & Noble and Microsoft in February 2012.
[source: VentureBeat]
News
When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.
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