● 03.18.09

●● Quick Mention: Did the Lexmark and Microsoft Patent Deal Involve Free Software? (Updated)

Posted in Deals, Free/Libre Software, Hardware, Microsoft, Patents at 7:57 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

ERROR Ink cartridge empty: can’t print deal

Summary: Another cross-licensing deal is signed, but the details remain unknown

ACCORDING TO THIS report, a patent deal was signed between Lexmark and Microsoft in secrecy.

Given the dust-up over the Redmond company’s recent patent lawsuit against TomTom, the natural question is whether the new patent agreement covers any open-source technologies Lexmark might be using. But Microsoft won’t say.[...]Microsoft says it has struck similar licensing deals with printing and imaging companies in the past, including Hewlett-Packard, Brother Industries, Fuji Xerox, and Kyocera Mita.

Lexmark offers Linux drivers for its printers, but it’s not clear whether — just like Brother [1, 2] for example — Lexmark uses FOSS inside its products. █

Update: Additional coverage below.

Press release

IDG: Microsoft and Lexmark Ink Patent DealMore from IDG: Microsoft, Lexmark Sign Patent Cross-LicenseReuters: Lexmark expands distribution, sets Microsoft pactCRN: Microsoft, Lexmark Ink Patent Cross-Licensing DealCNET: Microsoft, Lexmark to cross-license patents

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