|
|
Article: Microsoft Says It's Willing To License All its IP.
- Article from:
- Client Server News
- Article date:
- December 8, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 G2 Computer Intelligence. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Microsoft's chief counsel Brad Smith got on the blower Wednesday morning and basically threw all of Microsoft's IP, "100%," he said, of its patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights, on the table to be picked over and licensed by the industry on both royalty-free and "commercially reasonable" terms like a Macy's Bargain Basement sale.
Microsoft has, Smith noted, 4,000-odd patents and 5,400 "in the queue."
Deals will be sorted out on a case-by-case basis.
Naturally such a totally uncharacteristic move after nearly 30 years of corporate protectionism makes the naturally paranoid hunt out ulterior motives, and naturally Microsoft's oozing ...