Why does Microsoft earn money from Android handset manufacturers ?

[niks2456]

Why does Microsoft earn money from Android handset manufacturers ? Accoring to this article

http://bgr.com/2013/05/01/microsofts-android-licensing-agreements-earnings/

" Google unlawfully used technology from Oracle, Microsoft and others when creating its Android and Chrome operating systems "

Why handset makers have to pay ? Should Google pay to Microsoft ?

[neufuse Veteran]

Google would never pay, and/or MS feels that if they forced google to pay google would try to invalidate their patents or sue them for other things that would cost them even more money

[mmjm]

handset makers pay because they are given the OS freely and somehow that absolves Google. Handset makers have to pay for all the patents in Android I think - MPEG, H264, WiFi, etc

When you license a Microsoft product you are automatically protected by them, an umbrella I think is the term, from anyone suing you because you are using a Microsoft product that potentially infringes a patent.

[Melfster]

Google would never pay, and/or MS feels that if they forced google to pay google would try to invalidate their patents or sue them for other things that would cost them even more money

Google doesn't make any money directly (except for motorola) from Android while handset makers do make money. That is why microsoft/apple chose to go after the handset makers.

[vcfan]

Why does Microsoft earn money from Android handset manufacturers ? Accoring to this article

http://bgr.com/2013/...ments-earnings/

" Google unlawfully used technology from Oracle, Microsoft and others when creating its Android and Chrome operating systems "

Why handset makers have to pay ? Should Google pay to Microsoft ?

because these handset manufacturers are profiting off stolen intellectual property.google is profiting,but its harder to prove damages,because they make their money from advertising. it isn't a question of whether Microsoft can nail google through litigation, they can,theres do doubt about it, google doesn't have any valuable patents to defend themselves ,its just that they can make more money going after handset manufacturers because profit numbers are clear cut and much more than they would be able to squeeze out of google.

[M_Lyons10]

Why does Microsoft earn money from Android handset manufacturers ? Accoring to this article

http://bgr.com/2013/...ments-earnings/

" Google unlawfully used technology from Oracle, Microsoft and others when creating its Android and Chrome operating systems "

Why handset makers have to pay ? Should Google pay to Microsoft ?

Though Android may be developed by Google, the handset manufacturers customize and develop the platform for their phones themselves as well. As a result, in addition to Android itself violating patents, the changes the OEM's make can also violate patents that will need to be licensed.

Additionally, as Google develops Android "As Is", they do not provide patent protection of any kind to the OEM's that use it. So, really, if you want to look at it that way, this really comes down to Google not standing behind their own product and protecting their OEM's...