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TomTom and Microsoft Settle "in a way that ensures TomTom's full compliance with its obligations under the GPLv2"

By Pamela Jones et al.

TomTom and Microsoft have settled the patent litigation. Actually, both of them. Here's TechFlash's coverage. According to the Microsoft press release, TomTom will remove functionality regarding the FAT patents within two years, which is no big deal, frankly, and in the meantime, they are covered "in a manner that is fully compliant with TomTom's obligations under the General Public License Version 2 (GPLv2)":

Peter Spours, Director of IP Strategy and Transactions at TomTom N.V., stated: "This agreement puts an end to the litigation between our two companies. It is drafted in a way that ensures TomTom's full compliance with its obligations under the GPLv2, and thus reaffirms our commitment to the open source community."

However, Microsoft calls it a patent agreement. Of course, Red Hat showed a way that it can be done, but is that what has happened here? I don't know yet, but I'll let you know if and when I know more details. If so, it's a major step in retreat for Microsoft's bully campaign or, alternatively, it's a major step forward in Microsoft's more mature handling of GPL issues.

I think it can't be like the Red Hat deal, though, because TomTom is removing the Linux functionality. That leaves not paying a royalty. But the news is that they are paying. Wait. One other possibility, a Novell-like deal? Indeed Ina Fried on CNET gives a hint that is something similar:

As part of the deal, as TomTom will pay Microsoft for patent protection related to mapping patents and file-management patents that Microsoft claimed were infringed by TomTom's use of the Linux kernel....

In the case of the three file management patents, Microsoft is providing an agreement not to sue customers for their use of TomTom's products.

As long as TomTom stays under GPLv2, this might squeak by. But it's hardly ideal. I'd have preferred that TomTom not settle so that the FAT patents could get tested in court, but it's not my dime.

Full post as published by Groklaw on March 30, 2009 (boomark / email).