Microsoft joins LOT Network, helping protect developers against patent assertions

Microsoft has announced that it has joined the LOT Network, which is an organization set up to help thwart patent trolls by licensing any member's patents to all members if they end up in the hands of a troll. "What does all of this mean for you if you're a software developer or in the technology business? It means that Microsoft is taking another step to help stop patents from being asserted against you by companies running aggressive monetization campaigns. It also means that Microsoft is aligning with other industry leaders on this topic and committing to do more in the future to address IP risk. By joining the LOT network, we are committing to license our patents for free to other members if we ever transfer them to companies in the business of asserting patents. This pledge has immediate value to the nearly 300 members of the LOT community today, which covers approximately 1.35 million patents."