Microsoft Licenses Mobile Barcode Technology Patent Portfolio From NeoMedia

Microsoft has licensed over 74 patents from NeoMedia Technologies which is a leader in 2D Mobile barcode industry. Microsoft has been already promoting its own barcode tech called Microsoft Tag for the past few years and recently they added support for QR codes & NFC to Microsoft Tags. This patent licensing deal may denote a regular legal exercise or may be Microsoft is cooking something interesting in mobile barcode technology. Read the full press release below.

Press Release:

BOULDER, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: NEOM), pioneers in the mobile barcode industry, today announced that it has granted Microsoft a worldwide, non-exclusive, license to NeoMedia’s patent portfolio.

NeoMedia’s IP portfolio, consisting of over 74 patents awarded and pending worldwide, encompasses many mobile barcode implementations used widely across the industry.

“The agreement between NeoMedia and Microsoft underscores the importance of intellectual property to our growing industry,” said Laura Marriott, Chief Executive Officer of NeoMedia. “As mobile barcodes become a key fixture in the mobile marketing mix, it is important for stakeholders across the industry to ensure the solutions they employ leverage the relevant intellectual property in a responsible manner.”

“It is a very exciting time for the mobile IP industry as companies develop new technology for the always connected consumer,” said Ragnar Olson, Partner, Global IP Law Group. “We appreciated the opportunity to have worked with NeoMedia to bring about this agreement.”