LG Electronics is just the latest technology company that has taken up a seat at Microsoft's Linux round table, where some are more equal than others and there are no intellectual property issues. LG had to agree to a broad patent-licensing partnership with Microsoft, as the cost for the Redmond Company's IP heaven. Microsoft has emphasized from the get go that patent cross-license agreement with LG covers not only intellectual property associated with hardware and software products but also Linux.

"This agreement and our good relationship with Microsoft enable LGE to provide improved telecommunications solutions to our customers," said Jeong Hwan Lee, executive vice president of the Intellectual Property Center at LGE. "We believe that the license arrangement with Microsoft provides appropriate recognition of the value of LGE's computer system-related patents, which includes patents directed to computer architecture utilized in game consoles and other products. We believe in the importance of respecting the IP rights of others and that patent collaboration and protection is a best business practice the whole industry should be engaged in."

In the last year, Microsoft has increased the crowd on its Linux-Windows interoperability and intellectual property wagon to healthy proportions with the addition of such names as: Fuji Xerox NEC, Nortel Networks, Novell, Samsung and Seiko Epson. The Redmond Company also went on the offensive claiming that open source and free software, including Linux, infringes on a wide array of its patents. It is clear that Microsoft's strategy is paying off, as more and more companies seek a shelter from potential patent infringement issues.

"This agreement is another example of how Microsoft is continuing to build bridges with others in the industry through intellectual property licensing," said Horacio Gutierrez, vice president, Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. "We are pleased to be working with an industry leader and partner like LGE to meet our mutual business goals and customer needs."