Microsoft inks Android-patent deals with Acer and ViewSonic

Add Acer and ViewSonic to the list of companies that have agreed to pay Microsoft royalties on each mobile device they sell running Google Android or Chrome.

Microsoft — notoriously raking in more money from Android patents than from Windows Phone 7 — did not disclose the terms of the agreements. The fact that Microsoft continues to convince an increasing number of respectable device makers, among them HTC, Velocity Micro, and General Dynamics Itronix, arguably strengthens its case that Android infringes on some of the Redmond-based company’s intellectual property.

Acer’s Android-based tablets include the Iconia Tab line. ViewSonic’s tablet offerings, meanwhile, include the ViewPad 10 “Frankentablet,” a dual-boot system running both Windows 7 and Android. ViewSonic also sells the Android-based gTablet.

As part of the announcements, Microsoft issued a cookie-cutter statement. “We are pleased that [ViewSonic and Acer] are taking advantage of our industry-wide licensing program established to help companies address Android’s IP issues,” said Horacio Gutierrez, vice president and deputy general counsel of IP and licensing at Microsoft.

Still, there are plenty more intellectual property issues to be addressed within the mobile-tech space. Oracle sued Google for infringing on Java technology in Android back in August 2010. The two companies are looking to reach an agreement through mediation. Microsoft, meanwhile, has battled Motorola in court over Android licensing issue, as well as Foxconn, Barnes & Noble, and Inventec.

Meanwhile, Apple sued HTC in March, claiming HTC has infringed on 20 patents related to the iPhone user interface and underlying architecture and hardware. Nokia and Apple have sued one another; Nokia claimed the iPhone infringes on patents covering wireless data, speed encoding, security, and encryption, and Apple countersued, accusing Nokia of infringing 12 Apple patents.

Even a relatively obscure company called Lodsys has joined in, threatening independent iOS developers if they don’t start paying royalties for using Apple’s in-app purchasing system.

This article, “Microsoft inks Android-patent deals with Acer and ViewSonic,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Get the first word on what the important tech news really means with the InfoWorld Tech Watch blog. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.