In the last two months Microsoft has filed 500 patents with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Microsoft's patent push has been stimulated by a number of factors including competition and trying to make sure Microsoft's rivals don't get access to key innovations.
However, the company also begun a broad intellectual property licensing push several years ago, under which it licenses technology to many companies big and small. The company has signed a slew of patent cross licensing deals since then, the most recent being Tuesday's deal with Japan's JVC.
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