Microsoft IP Protection for Linux Devices from Melco Group

Melco Group is the latest company to jump aboard Microsoft's IP licensing program in order to provide patent covenants to the customers using devices that integrate Linux and additional open-source solutions. The Redmond company noted that the patent agreement inked with Melco Holdings Inc., parent company of Buffalo Inc. and Buffalo Group, covered all Buffalo-branded technologies. Customers of Buffalo technologies that are running open-source software, including Linux, now enjoy patent protection from Microsoft.

Hajime Nakai, director and member of the Board at Buffalo, applauded the new IP licensing deal with the software giant. NaKai emphasized that ensuring intellectual property coverage for its customers was in no way exclusive to continuing to comply with the GPLv2 open-source license.

“We are pleased to reach this agreement with Melco Group,” stated David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. “Many companies have entered similar agreements with Microsoft covering their Linux-based offerings, something that is a reflection of both Microsoft’s decades-long commitment to R&D in the operating system space and the high-quality patent portfolio we’ve developed through our R&D efforts.”

Neither company disclosed the specifics of the agreement, let alone the financial details. Still, Microsoft did reveal that Melco Group would compensate it, even though the royalties remained undisclosed. Melco Group customers should know that the agreement and associated patent covenants are related to Buffalo Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, as well as Buffalo routers, both of which are running Linux.

“We are very pleased to be able to work with Microsoft on this matter,” Nakai said. “While we plan to increasingly adopt Windows Storage Server for our NAS business, we also wanted to ensure that our open source and Linux-embedded devices had the appropriate IP protections. By collaborating with Microsoft on a practical business solution, we are able to provide our customers with the appropriate IP coverage, while also maintaining full compliance with our obligations under the GPLv2.”