New B&N, Microsoft Deal: Windows Nook Coming Soon?

The news over the wires this morning of the launch of a new join Barnes & Noble/Microsoft subsidiary is surprising for anyone who had been following the patent case, which alleged that Barnes & Noble, Foxconn, and Inventec, which are all involved in the manufacture of the Nook e-reader device, infringed on five patents that Microsoft holds. The case was interesting in the FLOSS community because by being the most vocal of Microsoft’s patent opponents, Barnes & Noble was able to reveal a lot more insight into how Microsoft approaches potential patent licensees in its highly touted patent licensing for revenue scheme.