Quote:
Originally Posted by murraypaul
Perhaps I'm oversimplifing, but haven't MS simply bought off B&N's Android patent lawsuit?
|
Uh, *MICROSOFT* filed the patent lawsuit.
So, no; they didn't buy off any lawsuit.
If you check the coverage (especially the linked CNET reports) MS has been trying to license access to the B&N ebookstore for several years now. B&N was initially receptive but then changed their mind, around the time when they stopped licensing Nook store access to other ereader vendors.
What seems to have happened is that B&N needed to spin-off Nook to survive, couldn't do it with the lawsuit hanging over their heads, and they needed money fast. So they "caved" on the patent issue, got a cash infusion that lets them play with the big boys, go international, and *keep control* of Nook, plus a guarantee of a minimum revenue from the Win8 Nook app.
MS gets a Nook app for Win8, WinRT, and probably WinPhone 8 as a counterweight to the Kobo and Kindle Apps. (Given the revenue guarantees, it seems MS will get a slice of Nook ebook sales from the Win8 Nook Apps. But that is just a guess now.)
B&N gets years of guaranteed survival, MS beefs up their Windows Platforms.
Just adults transacting business like adults.