In a new deal announced today, Microsoft and Amazon will gain access to each other's portfolio of patents, including patents related to the Amazon Kindle and the shopping giant's Linux server technology.
The patent cross-license deal makes both companies closer allies, as they are now sharing some of their most important intellectual property, although Microsoft didn't specify in its announcement exactly which product IPs it would share with Amazon. However, it is known that patents for the Amazon Kindle and the shopping giant's Linux server technology are part of the patent-sharing deal.
In addition to the sharing of intellectual property, Amazon has also agreed to pay Microsoft an undisclosed sum. Microsoft says that it has engaged in more than 600 of these types of agreements, although we bet the Amazon deal is one of the more high-profile agreements.