The cross-licensing includes Microsoft software and Pioneer’s auto-navigation products and televisions. It will enable each company greater access to the other’s patent portfolios and expand the relationship between them. Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Since the launch of its IP licensing program in December 2003, Microsoft has entered more than 500 licensing agreements with customers, partners, and competitors. It has similar patent cross-licensing agreements with Kenwood, Alpine Electronics, Fuji Xerox, LG Electronics, NEC, Nikon, Nortel Networks, Novell, Olympus, Onkyo, Samsung Electronics, and Seiko Epson.
Horacio Gutierrez, vice president of IP and licensing at Microsoft, said: Industry collaboration through intellectual property licensing fosters innovation that benefits the customer, the consumer, and the overall IT ecosystem. This agreement will help bring new and exciting technologies to customers who have learned to expect high-quality technology from Microsoft and Pioneer.
