Microsoft Continues to Build Its Android Licensing Program Adding Acer and ViewSonic Deals

Microsoft just announced that it inked two new intellectual property licensing agreements with Acer and ViewSonic covering technologies included in the Android and Chrome platforms.

The software giant is sending a clear message with these new intellectual property deals, but in all fairness, it’s more the case of a reiteration than anything else.

The Redmond company continues to build its Android / Chrome licensing program, showing no signs of stopping.

Additional third-parties currently leveraging Google’s open source platforms in their devices, be them mobile phones, slates or other form factors, should expect Microsoft to come knocking, especially since the software giant stressed on more than one occasion that Android and Chrome are infringing on its patents.

The IP agreement signed by Acer covers only the company’s Android-based tablets and smartphones. Acer is the fourth most successful PC vendor worldwide according to the latest statistics shared by IDC.

“We are pleased that Acer is taking advantage of our industrywide licensing program established to help companies address Android’s IP issues,” revealed Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft.

“This agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercially reasonable arrangements that address intellectual property.”

Gutierrez seemed similarly pleased with the patent licensing agreement signed with ViewSonic. This deal is somewhat different than the one with Acer, since it focuses on both Android and Chrome tablets and smartphones.

The parties did not disclose additional details about the IP deals, but Microsoft indicated that it will receive royalties from ViewSonic. There’s no word whether this is also the case as far as Acer is concerned, or if the OEM managed to negotiate a better agreement.

I sent over some questions to Microsoft and I just received an update. There are no additional details that the company will share on the deal with Acer, including financial terms, and the software giant is also not talking about any future similar agreements in the works at the time of this article.