I told you in the morning that Apple and HTC have concluded a global agreement for reciprocal licensing of their own patents si this was the 15th licensing agreement concluded between an Android terminal manufacturer and another entity. Those from HTC are the only ones who pay licenses to both Apple and Microsoft, but other agreements have been concluded by other manufacturers. Android is probably the most hunted operating system, those from Google not having much care with the technologies implemented in it.
Today's news of a global settlement of all litigation pending between Apple and HTC, based on a ten-year license agreement, is huge. It is, however, already the 15th patent license deal involving Android to have been announced (there may also have been some secret deals). Each and every one of those deals reduces to absurdity Google's claim of Android being "free". On the occasion of today's announcement, here's a recap of the 15 Android patent license deals (some of which also cover Google's Chrome) that have been announced to data. The list begins with HTC's deal with Microsoft and ends with HTC's agreement with Apple. At this point, HTC is the only Android device maker to be paying Android-related patent royalties to both Apple and Microsoft, but this way it's also the only one to be able to focus on its product business.
Considering that at the moment there are many processes that have the Android operating system in the foreground, it is not excluded that other agreements of this kind will be concluded, but the most important possible agreement has the attention of Apple and Samsung. If these two companies could reach an agreement, then anyone can do the same, but for now Apple and Samsung probably have the most open lawsuits in the courts around the world. Other companies are joining them, and in two or three years we will probably have double the number of signed agreements.
April 27, 2010: Microsoft Announces Patent Agreement With HTC
- June 27, 2011: Microsoft and General Dynamics Itronix Sign Patent Agreement ("Agreement will cover General Dynamics Itronix devices running the Android platform.")
- June 29, 2011: Microsoft and Velocity Micro, Inc., Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android-Based Devices
- June 30, 2011: Microsoft and Onkyo Corp. Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android-Based Tablets
- July 5, 2011: Microsoft and Wistron Sign Patent Agreement("Agreement will cover Wistron's Android tablets, smartphones and e-readers.")
- September 8, 2011: Microsoft and Acer Sign Patent License Agreement ("Agreement will cover Acer's Android tablets and smartphones.")
- September 8, 2011: Microsoft and ViewSonic Sign Patent Agreement ("Agreement will cover ViewSonic's Android Tablets and smartphones.")
- September 28, 2011: Microsoft and Samsung Broaden Smartphone Partnership ("Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties for Samsung's mobile phones and tablets running the Android mobile platform.")
- October 23, 2011: Microsoft and Compal Electronics Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android and Chrome Based Devices
- January 12, 2012: Microsoft and LG Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android and Chrome OS Based Devices
- April 25, 2012: Microsoft and Pegatron Corp. Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android- and Chrome-Based Devices
- April 30, 2012: Barnes & Noble and Microsoft Form Strategic Partnership to Advance World-Class Digital Reading Experiences for Consumers" ("Barnes & Noble and Microsoft have settled their patent litigation, and moving forward, Barnes & Noble and Newco will have a royalty-bearing license under Microsoft's patents for its NOOK eReader and Tablet products.")
- July 9, 2012: Microsoft and Aluratek Inc. Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android and Chrome Based Devices
- Nov 7, 2012: Microsoft Signs Licensing Agreements for exFAT With Sharp, Sigma, NextoDi, Black Magic and Atomos Global ("The agreements cover Sharp Android tablets, Sigma and NextoDi high-end cameras and accessories, and Black Magic and Atomos Global broadcast-quality video-recording devices.")
Nov 11, 2012: HTC and Apple Settle Patent Dispute
