Microsoft, LG, patents and Linux get cross

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

by Alex Zaharov-Reutt

Friday, 08 June 2007

! A cross-license patent agreement between software behemoth Microsoft and Korean electronics powerhouse LG may result in some interesting products. Will we see an LG HDTV with built-in Xbox 360? Related stories Review: Too Human Microsoft investment shows all is not well at Novell Microsoft IE8 Beta 2 released: the web browser for jerk-offs? It’s the end for the “Frickin’ Laser” Google Gears up Safari support Under what is being termed a broad patent-licensing agreement covering IP in hardware and software products, Microsoft will get access to LG patents that include “patents directed to computer architecture utilized in game consoles and other products”, while LG’s access to Microsoft patents include “Microsoft-patented innovations” for Linux-based embedded devices, and other products. These other products could conceivably be anything else LG produces – everything is becoming computerized, after all, with the embedded PC and operating system market having grown tremendously in recent years. Imagine an Xbox 360 that’s built into an LG flatscreen HDTV, along with 500GB or a 1TB hard drive not only for the Xbox 360 to use, but to record HDTV broadcasts. The unit could also be able to transfer HDTV recordings onto the internal Blu-ray and HD DVD combo disc recorder. Sony could do the same with the PS3 – it’s all technically feasible. LG also speak of being able to provide improved telecommunications solutions to their customers through access to Microsoft patents – perhaps this foretells that LG might be a hardware partner in a future Zune phone? But lest you think that Microsoft is favoring one manufacturer over another, the last 12 months has seen Microsoft announce a string of similar agreements with other major electronics manufacturers, including Samsung, NEC, Seiko Epson, Fuji Xerox, Nortel and most famously, at least of late, Novell, and following that, Xandros. As you might imagine, the ‘specific financial terms’ aren’t being disclosed, but any payments either side makes to the other will effectively be balanced out by return payments for license use, which makes you think it’s all an exercise to keep accountants busy if it’s a zero sum game in the end. Microsoft also gets access to some patents from an LG owned subsidiary called MicroConnect Group. So, will any of this mean a TV with a built in Windows PC and Vista Media Center, with Xbox 360, multiple digital tuners and more? Sadly, it’s just not known at this stage – certainly Samsung, who signed a similar deal earlier with Microsoft, hasn’t produced such a televisually converged entertainment megadevice. Still, you never know what the future will bring, other than the likelihood of more Microsoft and (fill in the blank of your choice tech company here) in the not too distant future! {moscomment} Please enable JavaScript in your browser to post your comment! Tags See All Tags Alex Zaharov-Reutt  Blu-ray  Consoles  Digital TV  Gadgets  Games  HD DVD  Intellectual property rights  Linux  Microsoft  Novell  Patents  Xbox  Zune  Get stories like this delivered daily - FREE - subscribe now

 

< Next story in category		Previous story in the category >