Microsoft Still Going After Royalties For Android

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Sure, you can use Android instead of Windows Phone 7, but you still have to pay up.

With the nature of Android open to all vendors, one would assume that going with that mobile OS instead of Windows Mobile mean being free of Microsoft's licensing fees.

Microsoft doesn't think so, however, and is going after the likes of Acer and Asus for licensing fees if the companies decide to offer Android and Chrome OS options in tablet PCs and netbooks. According to the Register, this is $10-$15 that Microsoft wants for each device sold.

Microsoft's claim is that it owns patents related to e-mail, multimedia and other functions.

Acer and Asus aren't the only Taiwanese companies pressured by Microsoft to pay up. HTC has already signed to license the technologies from Microsoft.

Source: Digitimes

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
49 Comments Comment from the forums
  • FinlayG
    You have got to be kidding me. Micro$oft owns e-mail? This is just petty.
    Reply
  • That's exactly what MS needs to do to lose 33% of it's customers!

    That way no company will choose MS anymore as partner, and push Linux ONLY on all devices; and MS would sell only OEM versions if they continue to push like this!
    Reply
  • ROTFL Bill I know that your not in charge any more but you seriously might want to check your legal team. Are they writing for SNL now because this is good material! OEM that's what needs to happen if they (windows) wants to live!
    Reply
  • xantek24
    their boss demands his cut...acapice?
    Reply
  • jabberwolf
    No bt Microsoft owns Acive Sync that connects to its Exchange servers that many companies uses. I assume this is the email part that MS is going after.
    Apple has to pay for this feature to use as well, as its not their technology and they didnt invent it.
    Reply
  • the_krasno
    As soon as Valve releases a Linux version I'm switching to Ubuntu. I mean, Linux now supports DX10 and 11 natively! Hardcore gaming on Linux is almost a dream come true!
    Reply
  • frye
    FinlayGYou have got to be kidding me. Micro$oft owns e-mail? This is just petty.
    It owns patents related to email. They don't own email.
    Reply
  • Acer, Asus and others need to grow a backbone and tell Microshaft exactly where to get off. M$ doesn't have a patent on email. Email existed before Microsoft knew what a networked computer was. It's all scare tactics because M$ also doesn't own any patents on Linux. Linux is distributed under the GNU public license, and M$ has no claims to any of it. The question of Linux has already been settled when the M$ backed SCO lost it's lawsuit against Linux. If M$ tells you or anyone to pay up over any Linux based (ie Android, Chrome, etc) software, don't be fooled, just tell them exactly where to go (very hot place) and how to get there (kiss my what?).
    Reply
  • festerovic
    I heard Al Gore has a similar lawsuit since the phones go on the internet, which he created.
    Reply
  • $10 to $15 seems high for licensing for the likes of Active Sync. Seems like MS's leverage is that they can screw these vendors on licensing for Win for their other laptops.
    Reply