[By Sudarshana Banerjee]

Microsoft and LG Electronics have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for LG’s tablets, mobile phones and other consumer devices running the Android or Chrome OS Platform. The contents of the agreement have not been disclosed. With this agreement, more than 70 per cent of all Android smartphones sold in the U.S. are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio.

Horacio Gutierrez (Corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group, Microsoft): Together with our ten previous agreements with Android and Chrome OS device manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and Acer, this agreement with LG means that more than 70 per cent of all Android smartphones sold in the U.S. are now receiving coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. We are proud of the continued success of our program in resolving the IP issues surrounding Android and Chrome OS.

The agreement with LG expands upon a pre-existing agreement. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 1,100 licensing agreements.