Microsoft signs licensing deal with owner of PalmOS patents
updated 07:40 pm EDT, Thu October 7, 2010
Technology licensed from Access
Microsoft has reportedly signed licensing deals with Acacia Research and Access, a company that acquired PalmSource and owns rights to a variety of patents relating to PalmOS. An Acacia spokesman told the Wall Street Journal that the licensing agreement covers 74 different patents involving smartphone technology.
The deal is thought to be related to a lawsuit Acacia filed against several smartphone makers including RIM, Apple, Samsung and Motorola. The plaintiff did not include Microsoft as a defendant in the original filing, however.
Acacia CEO Paul Ryan suggests the patents are "foundational" in the smartphone market, covering technology related to e-mail sync and telephone capabilities from computer devices, among other features.
