Partner Jeffrey Johnson, a member of Pryor Cashman's Corporate and Intellectual Property Groups, spoke to Law360 for its September 3, 2013 article, “Nokia Deal Gives Microsoft Patent Protection, Not Weapons.”

The article reports that Microsoft Inc.’s $7.2B purchase of Nokia Corp.’s smartphone operations includes a 10-year, non-exclusive license to practice Nokia’s patent portfolio, and assigns to Microsoft many of Nokia’s existing patent licenses with rivals like Qualcomm Inc. and Google Inc.’s Motorola Mobility LLC. Prior to the acquisition, Microsoft did not have many patents covering wireless technology, so the deal will protect it from potential suits by Nokia’s licensees over such technology. Nevertheless, as it only licensed Nokia’s patents and did not buy them, Microsoft will not be able to file suit or assert the patents as counterclaims against other smartphone makers should it be sued.

Johnson, who is experienced in intellectual property exploitation (patents, trade secrets, trademarks and copyright) within the software and telecommunications industries, told Law360, “there's a very limited strategic value to this deal.”

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