Siemens AG and Microsoft Corp. today announced a broad cross-licensing agreement to allow expanded access to the patent portfolios each company holds. The agreement signifies an expanded collaboration between Siemens and Microsoft, enabling each company to expand offerings to customers and deliver even more comprehensive and compelling customer solutions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

As leaders in the technology industry, Microsoft and Siemens both make substantial annual research and development (R&D) investments, something that is reflected in part by the thousands of patents held by each company in Europe, Asia, the United States and other parts of the world. Licensing patents plays an important role in both companies' businesses.

"We are always looking for opportunities to deliver more compelling products and services to our customers around the world, especially within IT and software. This emphasis is also reflected in our agreement with Microsoft, one of the leading players in IT," said Winfried B�ttner, Ph.D., head of Corporate Intellectual Property for Siemens AG, based in Munich. "Siemens is a global leader in innovation, pursuing new technologies that improve public- and private-sector infrastructures through internal R&D, joint ventures and strategic agreements such as this agreement with Microsoft. Now we will leverage Siemens' inventions with Microsoft's developments to make both companies' products stronger for our respective customers."