Microsoft and Samsung have agreed to cross-licence patents.
Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung will get access to Microsoft patents for technologies that are deployed in a range of current and future product lines - including computer products, set-top boxes, digital media players, camcorders, televisions, printers and home appliances.
In addition, Samsung and its distributors and customers may use Microsoft's patents in Samsung's products with proprietary software, and Samsung will also obtain legal coverage from Microsoft for its customers' use of certain Linux-based products.
Similarly, Microsoft will gain access to Samsung's large patent portfolio relating to digital media and computer-related inventions for its existing and future products.
"Offering customers elegant, highly desirable products requires advanced scientific research and design inspiration," said Shung Hyun Cho, senior vice president of the Digital Media R&D Centre at Samsung Electronics.
"Patent collaboration agreements like this expand access to ideas and lead to even more desirable products for our customers."
Companies which collaborate are in the best position to deliver the products and services, according to Horacio Gutierrez, vice president of intellectual property (IP) and licensing at Microsoft.
"We are always looking for new opportunities to work collaboratively within the industry, and Samsung was a natural fit, particularly because of its leadership in the rapidly changing world of digital media technologies," he said.
Microsoft said that it has actively sought patent agreements with a range of companies to build bridges with an array of consumer electronics, telecommunications, computer hardware, and Linux and Unix platform providers. In the past 12 months, Microsoft has struck similar deals with several other companies including Fuji Xerox, NEC, Nortel, Novell and Seiko Epson.
Samsung Electronics was the largest publisher of US patents in 2006 and owner of one of the largest patent portfolios.
The specific financial terms of the latest agreement are confidential, but both parties will receive payments compensating them for the value of their portfolios.
