Microsoft and Funai deepen partnership with cross-licensing agreement

REDMOND, Wash., and OSAKA, Japan — April 27, 2016 — 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.

Microsoft’s commitment to licensing IP

This patent agreement is another example of the important role IP plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant technology ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, it has entered into more than 1,200 licensing agreements, increasing collaboration and innovation across a range of industries. More information about Microsoft’s licensing programs is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing.

About Funai Electric Co. Ltd.

Funai Electric, established in 1961 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is listed in the Tokyo Securities Exchange First Section (6839) as a leading manufacturer of LCD TVs, DVDs/Blu-rays and related peripherals, printers, and antennas, etc. under FUNAI and other multiple brands in the global consumer electronics market. Funai Electric is well-known as a major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and supplier as well.

FUNAI products are sold by its sales subsidiaries FUNAI CORPORATION and P&F USA for North America, P&F MEXICANA for Central/South America, and other Funai Sales and Marketing companies throughout Asia.

Funai group sells products under multiple brands in addition to FUNAI. FUNAI products have a strong and solid reputation in global markets for their quality and reasonable prices. For more information on the Funai group, please visit www.funai.jp/en/ and www.funai.jp/en/guidance/history.html.

About Microsoft Technology Licensing

Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC was formed in 2014 to acquire, manage and license Microsoft’s patent portfolio.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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