Microsoft and Amazon reach agreement

Microsoft and Amazon have announced an agreement that would give the companies access to each other’s patents. The deal includes both the popular Kindle and Amazon’s use of Linux based servers, and Microsoft’s FAT, ClearType, and other technologies.

“Microsoft’s patent portfolio is the largest and strongest in the software industry, and this agreement demonstrates our mutual respect for intellectual property as well as our ability to reach pragmatic solutions to IP issues regardless of whether proprietary or open source software is involved,” Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for intellectual property and licensing at Microsoft, said in a statement.

The exact details haven’t been released but it’s likely Amazon will pay for its access. No telling yet what this might mean for the Kindle or if it may result in a Windows Mobile Kindle app. The app is already available for the BlackBerry, iPhone/iPod Touch, and PC.

Read [PCMag]