South Korean tech giant Samsung reportedly owes Microsoft some money. Samsung is believed to owe the Redmond company a total of $6.9 million in interest. The amount seems small considering Samsung already paid $1 billion last year. However, Microsoft went ahead and sued Samsung again for the unpaid interest.
Microsoft seems to be asking Samsung to pay up millions in interest for the case since last 2013. The two companies agreed on a patent licensing that would require Samsung to pay Microsoft royalty for each Android tablet and Android phone it makes for seven years. The first billion has been paid already but apparently, Samsung put an end to paying royalty payments as agreed last 2011. Samsung has not paid interest on late payments and is even threatening to stop all pending payment because of the recent Microsoft-Nokia purchase.
Microsoft’s acquisition of former top phone manufacturer Nokia is Samsung’s reasons to stop the payments but software giant said the agreement included “the license rights granted by Samsung under the Agreement cover the subsidiaries and assets of the business units”. This means, the Microsoft-owned Nokia is part of the “subsidiaries and asses”, therefore, Samsung should still pay what needs to be paid.
Microsoft’s Deputy General Counsel David Howard said:
“We are confident that our case is strong and that we will be successful. At the same time, Microsoft values and respects our long partnership with Samsung, is committed to it, and expects it to continue.”
Microsoft is clear that it still wants Samsung to pay the interest. Meanwhile, Samsung has not released an official statement on the issue of this new lawsuit.
VIA: SlashGear
SOURCE: Re/code
