Acer And ViewSonic Agree To Microsoft Patent Licensing Deal

Acer and ViewSonic are the latest companies to cough up their Microsoft tax, agreeing to pay the company in return for the freedom to use technologies the Windows maker has patented. Acer's agreement covers its Android devices, while ViewSonic's covers both Android and Chrome OS; we're presuming this means the company is still considering putting the Google platform on dual-boot tablets, as first suggested back at the ViewPad 100 launch.

"We are pleased that ViewSonic is taking advantage of our industrywide licensing program established to help companies address Android's IP issues," Microsoft's deputy general counsel of IP and Licensing Horacio Gutierrez says, taking the opportunity to stick the knife into Google's platform a little (and replicating the statement for Acer too). "This agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercially reasonable arrangements that address intellectual property."

Back in June, Microsoft persuaded General Dynamics Itronix, Velocity Micro and Onkyo to settle a licensing agreement, shortly followed by Wistron the following month. Meanwhile, the company is believed to also be targeting Samsung for a similar – though probably far more lucrative – deal. HTC is already believed to pay Microsoft $5 per Android device it makes.