Patent Law

Microsoft's Patent Tax

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

Microsoft appears to have mastered the art of the patent squeeze. A recent convert from being something other than a patent piñata, since 2003, the inception of its patent licensing program, Microsoft has wrestled innumerable cross-licensing agreements from a wide variety of technology companies. Invariably the grateful recipient pads the Big Softee's kitty with a pittance for the privilege of peace of mind, that Microsoft won't hammer it with a patent infringement suit. Practically all of the licensed, with rare exception, are Microsoft customers. This past week, Pioneer was the 15th Japanese company to pony up.

Microsoft's patent assertions can be counted on one hand. Perhaps I've lost count, but only know of one, over mice. Small cheese.

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on September 21, 2008 (boomark / email).