Microsoft v. TomTom
Encyclopedia
Microsoft v. TomTom, Inc. was a court case brought by Microsoft
against TomTom
in 2009. According to Microsoft, TomTom was violating Microsoft's software patents on the FAT32 file system.
TomTom's navigation products use the Linux
kernel, and according to Microsoft, TomTom violated two patents related to legacy compatibility features in the FAT32 file system. On 19 March TomTom filed a countersuit alleging Microsoft is infringing three of its patents. TomTom accused Microsoft’s Streets and Trips products of infringing four patents in TomTom’s vehicle navigation software.
According to Microsoft, the reason for accusing TomTom of patent infringement was that other companies that utilize Microsoft patents have bought licenses from Microsoft.
Microsoft issued the following statement:
On March 2009, TomTom settled the patent dispute by purchasing licenses from Microsoft to use the FAT32 file system. TomTom has joined the Open Invention Network
, an intellectual property sharing organization for innovators using Linux.
It is possible that Microsoft will in the future cause problems related to software patents for companies that use Linux.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
against TomTom
TomTom
TomTom NV is a Dutch manufacturer of automotive navigation systems, including both stand-alone units and software for personal digital assistants and mobile telephones. It is the leading manufacturer of navigation systems in Europe. TomTom's customer service is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
in 2009. According to Microsoft, TomTom was violating Microsoft's software patents on the FAT32 file system.
TomTom's navigation products use the Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
kernel, and according to Microsoft, TomTom violated two patents related to legacy compatibility features in the FAT32 file system. On 19 March TomTom filed a countersuit alleging Microsoft is infringing three of its patents. TomTom accused Microsoft’s Streets and Trips products of infringing four patents in TomTom’s vehicle navigation software.
According to Microsoft, the reason for accusing TomTom of patent infringement was that other companies that utilize Microsoft patents have bought licenses from Microsoft.
Microsoft issued the following statement:
On March 2009, TomTom settled the patent dispute by purchasing licenses from Microsoft to use the FAT32 file system. TomTom has joined the Open Invention Network
Open Invention Network
The Open Invention Network is a company that acquires patents and licenses them royalty free to entities which, in turn, agree not to assert their own patents against Linux and Linux-related systems and applications.-History:...
, an intellectual property sharing organization for innovators using Linux.
It is possible that Microsoft will in the future cause problems related to software patents for companies that use Linux.