South Korea: Samsung future in hands of Microsoft royalty spat outcome

Samsung is reportedly mulling a new partnership with Microsoft, a curious business move for the South Korean firm considering it is still in the midst of a patent dispute with the US computer giant.

According to reports, Samsung is looking to loosen its dependence on Google’s Android mobile operating system and possibly look towards Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 system when manufacturing smartphones, according to unnamed sources.

One unnamed official told reporters that “Samsung has run pilot programs on the stability of Windows 8.1 software on devices. It is interested in promoting Windows mobiles.”

But Samsung’s ongoing patent licensing dispute with Microsoft presents a major hurdle for Samsung’s potential new Windows phones. The companies secured an agreement several years ago that saw Microsoft obtain licensing royalties from Samsung.

Samsung, however, argues that Microsoft nullified their agreement when it acquired Nokia’s handset operations, placing Microsoft in direct competition with Samsung. Microsoft has since filed a lawsuit against Samsung to recover $1 billion in royalty fees.

Reports say Samsung is still fighting for antitrust authorities in the US, China and South Korea to nullify the Nokia acquisition.

Full Content: Korea Times

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