Tomtom Agrees Patent Payouts To Microsoft

TomTom will also remove technology related to two of Microsoft's file management patents within two years under the deal.

"We were able to work with TomTom to develop a patent agreement that addresses their needs and ours in a pragmatic way," said Gutierrez. "When addressing IP infringement issues, there are two possible paths: securing patent coverage or not using the technology at issue. Through this agreement, TomTom is choosing a combination of both paths to meet the unique needs of its business, and we are glad to help them do so.”

Microsoft has long claimed patent rights over some parts of Linux. It said in 2007 that the operating system infringed 235 of its patents.

On filing the TomTom suit, Gutierrez told CNET News that whether systems using Linux infringed its patents could only be judged on a case by case basis.

"[The] TomTom implementation of the Linux kernel…infringes these claims," Gutierrez said. "There are many flavors of Linux [and] many implementations of the Linux kernel. Cases such as these are very fact-specific."