OS and Software > All Things Unix > Microsoft Embraces Another Linux Company

Microsoft Embraces Another Linux Company

said by Kelly Fiveash :

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Another day, another company developing Linux-based tech falls into line with Microsoft's intellectual property wonks.

Japanese Flash maker I-O Data Device Inc has agreed to cough up an undisclosed sum of cash to Microsoft under a Linux software deal.

This is the latest such agreement Microsoft has made with a tech company that uses Linux in its products.

I-O Data's network-attached storage devices and its routers that run on Linux apply to the "patent covenants" said Microsoft in a statement yesterday.

“We’re pleased to reach this agreement with I-O Data,” said MS intellectual property boss David Kaefer.

“Microsoft has a strong track record of collaboration with companies running Linux-based offerings, and this agreement is a reflection of our commitment to partner with industry leaders around the world.”

Just last week Redmond inked an IP licensing exFAT deal with Panasonic.

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Keeps sounding more like a pimp with each deal!

reply to SUMware
From Another Linux Vendor Bows to Microsoft Patent Claims
March 4, 2010 -

said by Stuart Johnston :

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Just a week and a half after signing a patent licensing deal with Amazon covering the e-tailer's use of Linux, Microsoft announced it has inked another Linux patent licensing agreement, this time with a Japanese hardware company.

Neither Microsoft nor the Japanese company, I-O Data Device, revealed details of the agreement. However, in a short joint statement, the two said the deal "will provide I-O Data's customers with patent coverage for their use of I-O Data's products running Linux and other related open source software."

"In recent years, Microsoft has entered into patent agreements with other leading companies that use Linux for their embedded devices, including Brother International Corp., Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd., Kyocera Mita Corp., LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and TomTom International BV," the Microsoft spokesperson said.

Whereas Microsoft's earlier pact with Amazon included patent cross-licensing, the deal with I-O Data -- which manufacturers PC memory, hard drives, solid-state drives, LCD displays and other PC peripherals and components -- has no such reciprocity. I-O Data will simply cut Microsoft a check for licensing Microsoft's patents, though neither party would say what patents were included in the agreement.

"I-O Data is a leading provider of devices for PCs and consumer electronics, and this patent licensing agreement covers its storage devices and routers, which run Linux," a Microsoft spokesperson said in an e-mail to InternetNews.com.

In the Amazon case, Microsoft also said its agreement covered the use of Linux on Amazon's servers, but again did not provide any details of what patents were at issue. Amazon also said it had paid Microsoft as part of its agreement.

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reply to SUMware
How is Microsoft getting away with this?

I'm also curious as to the reasoning of these companies, is easier to bow to M$'s demands and continue doing business, or do they just not have the resources to fight them?
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You can pry my pirated media from my cold, dead, hands.

reply to SUMware
Use Windows? Pay Microsoft.
Don't use Windows? Pay Microsoft.
Nice scam!
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reply to El Quintron

They won't be able to sell "infringing" devices here either.
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Ubuntu MOTU Developer and Forums Council

reply to jdong
But they would be able to sell "infringing" devices in countries without software patents?

In reality what kind of fight would they be facing? Do they have to prove their devices aren't infringing?

Or are the patents granted to M$ so absurd there's no way they couldn't infringe?
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Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

reply to jdong

reply to jdong

reply to jdong

reply to garywk
It's probably a matter of expediency more than anything. Why get into a fight if you can just run the M$-Tax as a "cost of doing business"

It wouldn't be the route I would take, but I'm not in business either.
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Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

reply to SUMware
These I-O Data guys only list two products on their web site: both external disk drives.

My guess is that the FAT32 patents are the problem area.

reply to KodiacZiller