Microsoft has laid claim to licensing agreements for more than 50% of Android devices, according to the International Business Times.

Counsel for the software giant, Brand Smith and Horacio Gutierrez, explained that Microsoft recently announced its tenth license agreement with Compal, one of the world’s largest original design manufacturers (ODM). The Taiwan based Compal, which has a $28 billion (R214 billion) revenue, produces smartphones and tablet computers for third parties, many of which are running the Android operating system.  

“This means that companies accounting for over half of all Android devices have now entered into patent license agreements with Microsoft,” elaborated Smith and Gutierrez. In their blog post, the pair added that amidst the continuing clamour about uncertainty and litigation relating to smartphone patents, the company is putting in place a “series of agreements that are reasonable and fair to both sides”.

“Our agreements ensure respect and reasonable compensation for Microsoft's inventions and patent portfolio. Equally important, they enable licensees to make use of our patented innovations on a long-term and stable basis,” they asserted.

They continued that the licensing progress with ODMs has been matched by similar momentum with original equipment manufacturers, (OEMs), who produce Android devices under their own brands. One such example is Microsoft and Samsung’s definitive agreement to cross-license the patent portfolios of both companies, which would provide broad patent coverage for each company’s products.

According to the terms of that agreement, Microsoft would receive royalties (amount not disclosed) for every smartphone and tablet that Samsung sells, which operate on Google’s Android mobile operating system (OS).

“For those who continue to protest that the smartphone patent thicket is too difficult to navigate, it's past time to wake up. As Microsoft has entered new markets from the enterprise to the Xbox, we’ve put together comprehensive licensing programs that address not only our own needs but the needs of our customers and partners as well. As our recent agreements clearly show, Android handset manufacturers are now doing the same thing. Ultimately, that's a good path for everyone,” concluded Smith and Gutierrez.

In related news, Google asserted that Microsoft and Apple were waging a patent war against the Android operating system, which has been eagerly gobbling up market share of late.