Microsoft--license to deal
C|Net | at | by Mike
After stepping up its own patent push, Microsoft is now trying to get its hands on other companies' intellectual property. Doing so will give the company more freedom to develop software in new areas and help the company as it seeks to indemnify its customers against any claims of patent infringement.
Microsoft has roughly 100 licensing deals in the works, with about 15 to 20 being broad cross-licensing pacts with other large companies, Kaefer said, adding that it can take from one to two years to reach an accord.