Azure IoT customers can now get access to 10,000 Microsoft patents

Back in 2017, Microsoft announced the new Azure IP Advantage program through which Microsoft will use its patent portfolio to help protect its cloud customers from patent suits. If sued, eligible Azure customers can acquire one of 10,000 patents that Microsoft will make available to help counter assert against an aggressor. Microsoft today announced that it is expanding the Azure IP Advantage program to include new benefits for Azure IoT innovators and startups. Read about the new features in detail below.

• Uncapped indemnification coverage for Microsoft’s Azure Sphere and Windows IoT. Indemnification helps protect a customer from IP infringement claims asserted against the customer for its use of the product or service.  Today’s expansion brings uncapped indemnification coverage to Azure Sphere and Windows IoT, including the open source software incorporated by Microsoft in these products.
• Access to 10,000 patents for customers using Azure to power IoT devices to defend themselves against IP lawsuits. This benefit can help deter patent lawsuits against Azure customers for their workloads and applications running in Azure or on their IoT devices, as qualified customers can pick a patent to use in their defense of a lawsuit.
• The ability for startups on Azure to acquire Microsoft patents to help boost their business. Qualified startups who also join the LOT Network can acquire Microsoft patents through LOT in technical areas including artificial intelligence, multimedia and security.  Patents can play an important role for startups as they grow, look for ways to protect their innovations, and attract critical capital support.

Microsoft today also announced that it is donating 500 patents to the LOT Network. Startups joining LOT Network can access to these patents as part of their membership. You can learn more about this announcement from the link below.

Source: Microsoft