“Nokia’s decision to partnership with Microsoft rather than adopt Google’s Android may ease patent negotiations between the company and Apple, which is more likely to support strengthening weak rivals rather than empowering an already ubiquitous one,” Daniel Eran Dilger reports for AppleInsider.
“A report by Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents notes Nokia’s patents are one of the company’s strongest assets; resolving its complaint with Apple quickly may give it a better opportunity extinguish its ‘burning platform’ and get back to business,” Dilger reports. “‘In his presentation to investors, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said that they have ‘one of the strongest patent portfolios out there,” Mueller wrote, ‘and they are willing to license it to others ‘at an appropriate royalty rate.’ This translates as stepping up their outbound licensing efforts.'”
“‘The partnership between Nokia and Microsoft should make it much easier for Apple and Nokia to work things out between them and strike a cross-license deal,” Mueller wrote, adding that Apple would be unlikely to file suit against Microsoft, given that the two are also partners (in the area of Exchange Server particularly) and have already resolved their differences in a series of cross licensing agreements,” Dilger reports.
Much more in the full article, including why Google’s in a weak position with Android, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]