Microsoft makes deals in China
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
Microsoft has struck licensing deals with two companies in China that will incorporate technologies from its Beijing research lab into their products, promising the Redmond company a piece of the resulting revenue in return.
The deals with Comtech Group Inc. and Hunan Talkweb Information System Co. are the first of their kind for Microsoft in China. They include technologies for viewing videos on mobile devices and for turning photos into cartoon sketches.
It is the latest step in Microsoft's long-standing effort to build its business in China. The agreements are notable in a country where rampant software piracy and generally low regard for intellectual-property rights have made it tough for international technology companies to do business.