Microsoft and Funai deepen partnership with cross-licensing agreement

REDMOND, Wash. and OSAKA, Japan, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. and Funai Electric Co. Ltd. (“Funai Electric”) announced they are strengthening their successful partnership with the renewal of a patent cross-licensing agreement covering a range of consumer audio-video products.

“Microsoft and Funai Electric will continue to benefit from each other’s innovations in building enhanced experiences for our customers,” said Nick Psyhogeos, president of Microsoft Technology Licensing. “This cross-licensing agreement is another example of the advantages of an IP-led economy, encouraging product interoperability and accelerating research and development advances across companies.”

Joji Okada, officer of intellectual property (IP) licensing of Funai Electric, said, “Cross-licensing partnerships foster better collaboration and technology sharing. We see an enduring value in continuing to work with Microsoft that is mutually beneficial to all of our customers.”

Funai Electric is a worldwide leading manufacturer under FUNAI and other multiple brands including Philips, Magnavox, DX Broadtec, Emerson, Sanyo and Kodak.