IBM and Adobe Ink Licensing Agreement
IBM (Armonk, NY) and Adobe (San Jose) have signed an agreement to cross-license portions of each others' software patent portfolios. The agreement, which doesn't reveal specific product names, includes technology for graphics, multimedia, printing and document publishing. Adobe will use IBM graphics and multimedia inventions for current and future products; the agreement extends to Adobe's end user and OEM customers. The agreement augments IBM's existing licenses for Adobe's PostScript and PostScript Extreme software in its printer products. The licensing agreement follows the trend of a "growing acceptance and awareness in our industry of the need to license software patents," said Marshall Phelps, Jr., IBM VP of intellectual property andlicensing. "These licenses allow the exchange of ideas and inventions throughout the industry to the benefit of both technology providers and customers, while protecting the investments of the inventors." Added Fred Schwedner, senior VP and GM for Adobe's Printing and Systems division: "Today's agreement strengthens the technology arsenal of both companies."