Microsoft Signs Android Patent Deal With HTC

This is complicated and I would avoid comments on professional proprietary grounds

Below is an extract from MG Siegler (TechCrunch)'s post on October 3, 2010 on the interview with Steve Ballmer where OS pricing and licensing fee were discussed -

“It’s not like Android’s free,” Ballmer told WSJ in an interview this weekend about Windows Phone 7. “Android has a patent fee,” he said. “You do have to license patents,” he continued.

So Ballmer’s stance is that while Google may not charge a licensing fee for Android, there is a hidden fee — one compliments of none other than Microsoft.

Ballmer noted that HTC recently signed an agreement with his company to grant them rights to patents for things they wish to do with Android. A few days ago, Microsoft sued Motorola, clearly attempting to get them to sign a similar deal.

It’s interesting that Microsoft has yet to sue Google for Android, and instead they are focusing on the OEM partners. It’s also interesting that HTC is also making Windows Phone 7 phones right out of the gate, while Motorola has said they won’t be working with Microsoft on phones until next year at the earliest. Instead, they’re focusing on Android. So this lawsuit is purely coincidental, I’m sure.