Thursday, June 7, 2007

LG Joins Microsoft's Open Source Protection Club

LG Electronics is the latest company to join Microsoft's open source protection plan. The consumer electronics manufacturer agreed to give the software giant access to its intellectual property in exchange for the chance to use embedded open source technology -- which may technically violate Microsoft patents -- in its products without the threat of litigation.

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and South Korea's LG Electronics (LGE) have announced a patent cross-licensing deal, similar to one Microsoft recently signed with Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) , that allows LG to use Microsoft technology in its products while giving Microsoft access to LG's intellectual property.

The deal means LG can use Linux in its products without fearing litigation from Microsoft, which recently voiced claims that some of the code used to create the popular open source operating system was first patented by Microsoft. Additionally, LG is said to have patented technology, now owned by business solutions provider MicroConnect, that Microsoft can use in its Xbox line of gaming consoles.

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