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View Full Version : Microsoft To Protect Its Device Makers From Visto Suit


Ed Hansberry
02-10-2006, 03:00 PM
<a href="http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=179102774&amp;subSection=Operating+Systems">http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=179102774&amp;subSection=Operating+Systems</a><br /><br /><i>"Amid a legally charged environment for makers of mobile computing devices, Microsoft said Thursday it would expand the protections against intellectual property lawsuits it offers to manufacturers who make devices that run Windows. Microsoft lifted caps on the amount of legal fees it would reimburse to makers of embedded devices that are sued for intellectual property infringement as a result of licensing Microsoft code. The amount had previously been capped based on Microsoft's volume of business with a device maker that licensed its embedded operating systems. Microsoft also said it would indemnify device makers against trade-secrets lawsuits, in addition to patent, copyright, and trademark suits."</i><br /><br />It has been a few months since Visto sued Microsoft over patent infringment, claiming Microsoft's Exchange Server ActiveSync/Windows Mobile 5 mechanism to sync email with devices wirelessly violates one or more Visto patents. This is the first news I've heard from Microsoft since the suit was announced and it seems the gloves are off. Not only are they ready for battle, they are totally shielding their OEM partners from legal expenses.

Jonathan1
02-10-2006, 05:22 PM
{bandwith killing image for mobile users removed - please use the contact form to handle problems, not randomly post within a thread that the admins might not see - and when it comes to system issues, I am not one of then. - EH}

tjl129
02-10-2006, 06:24 PM
Hopefully this will speed up the appearance of the push email update on WM5 devices. I wonder the fear of lawsuits has played a role in the delayed deployment of MSFP at all?