The specifics of the agreement are not being disclosed at this time, but it is likely Microsoft’s latest license agreement with LG is similar to those signed with just about every other major Android vendor including Samsung, HTC, Huawei, Acer, and over 10 others. Microsoft is already collecting millions from Android vendors in patent agreements stemming from an original deal to collect a $5 royalty per device from HTC in May, and will now begin to profit off LG’s line of Android-based tablets, smartphones, and televisions as well.
Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Intellectual Property Group Horacio Gutierrez made the announcement on the company’s website:
“We are pleased to have built upon our longstanding relationship with LG to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Together with our 10 previous agreements with Android and Chrome OS device manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and Acer, this agreement with LG means that more than 70 percent of all Android smartphones sold in the U.S. are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. We are proud of the continued success of our program in resolving the IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome OS.”
Within the announcement, Microsoft noted it signed over 1,100 licensing agreements since beginning the IP licensing program in December 2003.
According to a recent report from Reuters, LG invested $1 billion in cash into its smartphone business, despite reporting losses of almost the same figure over the last six quarters. LG’s chief executive Park Jong-seok hopes financial results will greatly improve by the fourth quarter as the company launches more LTE devices and experiences increasing sales of its Optimus LTE device launched in October. Currently the Optimus LTE has sold over 500,000 units since its launch, and Park expects that number to reach 1 million by the end of this month.
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