Microsoft Sues Samsung Over Android Again
Microsoft accused South Korean gigantic of breaching a contract over licensing of technology used in the competitive smartphone market. “After becoming the important player in the worldwide smartphone market, Samsung decided to stop complying with its agreement with Microsoft last year,” the US technology firm’s deputy committee said in an online post.
The complaint was filed in federal court in New York which alleges Samsung is balking at making payments for patented Microsoft technology used in its Android smartphone and tablets.
Samsung told AFP, “We will review the complaint in detail and determine suitable measures in response.”
Microsoft says that Samsung is not adhering to a contract from 2011 and it filed the court action after ‘painstaking negotiations’. The legal pact involves Samsung paying to use Microsoft cerebral property, says deputy counsel David Howard.
The sales of Samsung’s handsets have quadrupled since contract was signed as the company grew from shipping 82 million Android powered smartphones in 2011 to 314 million three years later, Microsoft informed.
Samsung became biggest maker of handset powered by Google’s Android software.
Howard said, “Samsung predicted it would be successful but no one expected their Android smartphones sales would increase this much”.
After Microsoft made a deal to buy Nokia last year, Samsung stopped surviving by the cross licensing contract, US company said. Nokia was the world leader in mobile phones before the introduction of Apple’s iPhone in 2007 and onslaught of Android phones by Samsung.
Microsoft opted for Android operating system in June for its new Nokia X series, to recuperate its ground in to the competition. Microsoft said that Android incorporates some of its patented technology and company’s practice is to license the intellectual property to handset makers.
Samsung has been an associate of Microsoft from long, making computer devices. “Microsoft values and respects the partnership with Samsung and expects it to continue. We are simply asking the court to settle our disagreement and buttress the contract,” Howard said. Microsoft expects its royalty money from Samsung, along with interest charges for the late payment.
