Microsoft patent wars rage on

Appolicious says.

The deal was struck with Chinese tech company, Compal Electronics.

Compal Electronics agreed to pay undisclosed royalties to Microsoft for the use of patented technologies associated with the open source Android mobile operating system, as well as the Google Chrome Internet-based OS, according to an announcement issued on Sunday by Microsoft, Redmondmag.com reports. The patent coverage is associated with "Compal's tablets, mobile phones, e-readers and other consumer devices," Microsoft indicated.

With this deal in place, Microsoft is now claiming that the majority of the original design manufacturing (ODM) industry has struck IP deals with Microsoft over the use of various technologies in Google's products.

According to The Seattle Times, at issue in Microsoft's current patent wrangling is its contention that Android - the mobile operating system developed and offered to manufacturers for free by Google - has certain features that infringe on Microsoft's patents.

Microsoft's preference, he said, is to reach licensing agreements, rather than battle it out in court. The company has negotiated such agreements with major manufacturers of Android devices, including Samsung, HTC and Acer, which together hold more than half of the US Android smartphone market share by units. It has also reached similar agreements with major original design manufacturers that produce devices branded by other companies.