Microsoft Rivals Unite to Acquire Patents Sold by Microsoft to Allied Security Trust

As part of a proposed settlement, a group of major corporate companies, including Sony, IBM, and Red Hat, are finalizing an agreement to acquire patents sold by Microsoft to Allied Security Trust (AST). The acquisition is led by the Open Invention Network (OIN), a coalition of companies that support open source software like Linux. AST, which includes members such as Verizon Communications, Cisco Systems, and Hewlett-Packard, had acquired the patents in a private auction conducted by Microsoft. The acquisition is aimed at protecting Linux software users from costly lawsuits and ensuring that Microsoft's patents do not fall into the hands of patent trolls.

Key Takeaways:

• The Open Invention Network (OIN), comprising Sony, IBM, and Red Hat, is finalizing a settlement to acquire patents sold by Microsoft to Allied Security Trust (AST).
• The acquisition is aimed at protecting Linux software users from costly lawsuits and ensuring that Microsoft's patents do not fall into the hands of patent trolls.
• Allied Security Trust (AST) acquires patents mainly to protect its member companies from patent litigations, providing licenses to its members and reselling the patents in the open market.
• Microsoft's sale of patents to AST includes companies that support Linux, such as Verizon Communications, Cisco Systems, and Hewlett-Packard.
• Dave Kaefer, general manager for intellectual-property licensing from Microsoft, maintains that Microsoft did not intend to disrupt the Linux products market through the sale of the patents.
• The acquisition aims to prevent patent trolls from acquiring the patents sold by Microsoft to AST.

Statistics:

• The Open Invention Network (OIN) is a coalition of companies that support open source software like Linux.
• Allied Security Trust (AST) acquired the patents in a private auction conducted by Microsoft.
• The acquisition is aimed at protecting Linux software users from future patent litigations and costly lawsuits.
• PATENT INFRINGEMENT UNITS SOLD BY MICROSOFT TO AST ARE NOT MENTIONED.

Sources:

• "Group of Microsoft rivals finalizing settlement to acquire patents sold by Microsoft to AST"
• Kaefer, Dave, "Microsoft's patent sale a way to support Linux, not disrupt it"