Microsoft To Charge Phone Makers a Licensing Fee

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Microsoft To Charge Phone Makers a Licensing Fee

Posted by Soulskill on Friday October 1, 2010 @05:30AM from the how-magnanimous-of-you dept.

angry tapir writes "Microsoft may be one of the only remaining mobile operating-system providers that charges handset makers a licensing fee, but in exchange vendors get at least one important benefit: protection from intellectual property worries. 'Microsoft indemnifies its Windows Phone 7 licensees against patent infringement claims,' the company said. 'We stand behind our product, and step up to our responsibility to clear the necessary IP rights.'" In related news, Windows Phone 7 will be exclusive to AT&T at launch, and it seems Microsoft is counting on Xbox Live integration to be the "hook" that gets people interested in the new devices.

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You get what you pay for. by LostCluster · 2010-10-01 05:33 · Score: 4, Informative

One of the reasons why big business loves Windows and isn't that interested in Linux other than maybe Red Hat is because if things go horribly wrong, there's somebody with deep pockets to sue. What Microsoft is offering here is a classic part of their business plan... if somebody comes up with a submarine patent they'll take the legal pain so their customers don't have to.
Remember the lesson of SCO and Darl McBride.... even though the claims had no legal merit, they still were messy enough that it was cheaper to pay the settlement price than fight them and win the case. When faced with such a problem, any sane business man will take the less expensive option even if it's not the one that's good for the world.
So, this license fee can be seen as an insurance policy against such patent claims that could bite the handset maker for a mistake the software writers made.
1. Re:You get what you pay for. by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-01 06:03 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  Once upon a time, Microsoft was a major player in the smartphone OS market. But when something better came along (Android, iOS), the entire market jumped ship because they could easily do so. They couldn't do that with desktop Windows.
  Now Microsoft's foothold in the mobile market is a fucking joke, even with this Windows Phone 7 stuff.
2. Re:You get what you pay for. by poetmatt · 2010-10-01 08:11 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  eh, I hate to agree with this, but it's pretty true.
  MS is known for buying out an issue if necessary, and that includes lawsuits. I mean how many people were originally parties to the samba case, and how many were bought out? All but 1. It's not the first time, either.
Indemnification already offered on Linux by PlanetX+00 · 2010-10-01 05:36 · Score: 5, Informative

A quick search revealed that at least one embedded Linux vendor offers this too without per-phone royalties:

"Meanwhile, MontaVista added that it protects its customers from technical and legal risks through warranties on all editions of MontaVista Linux and indemnification against claims involving the code it creates and delivers."

Just more FUD IMHO
On the desktop, perhaps by Rix · 2010-10-01 05:48 · Score: 1, Informative

Maybe a few hobbling along on their anaemic server products.
No one takes their smartphone OS seriously.
1. Re:On the desktop, perhaps by adonoman · 2010-10-01 06:36 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Using Powershell. Windows 2008 Server Core barely even has a GUI - it's all command line and remote management.
2. Re:On the desktop, perhaps by h4rr4r · 2010-10-01 07:57 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  For the same reason your wrong about the automatic.
  With a server people don't need extra crap that stands in the way of real control.