28 August 2008

Microsoft and Nikon have signed a patent cross-licensing agreement covering digital cameras, as well as a broad range of other consumer products each company manufactures and sells.

Under the agreement both parties will be able to innovate openly with each other’s technologies, enabling new features and products to come to market.

“This is another great example of how industry leaders are coming together to collaborate through intellectual property licensing, and by doing so enabling innovation that will ultimately benefit the consumer,” said Horacio Gutierrez, vice president of intellectual property and licensing at Microsoft. “We are proud of the quality of our broad, global patent portfolio, and we are pleased to be working with an industry leader such as Nikon.”

“At Nikon, we want to continue to lead the industry in pioneering photography solutions and give our customers access to innovative technology,” said Naoki Tomino, director, member of the board and general manager of intellectual property headquarters at Nikon. “This agreement is a natural extension of our long-standing relationship with Microsoft, and we look forward to collaborating and bringing exciting new products to the market.”