Microsoft: Nook's Android OS Violates Our Patents

eWeek: Microsoft has filed patent violation lawsuits against Barnes & Noble and the manufacturers of the Nook e-book reader--Foxconn and Inventec. Microsoft claims that the Android-based device infringes on its intellectual property. "The Android platform infringes a number of Microsoft's patents, and companies manufacturing and shipping Android devices must respect our intellectual property rights," said Microsoft's Horacio Gutierrez. "To facilitate that, we have established an industry-wide patent licensing program for Android device manufacturers."

"We have tried for over a year to reach licensing agreements," Gutierrez added. "Their refusals to take licenses leave us no choice but to bring legal action to defend our innovations."