Microsoft,Toshiba in cross-licensing deal

The pact allows Microsoft, the world’s biggest software maker, and Toshiba, the world’s third-largest notebook computer manufacturer, to use each other’s patents on computer and digital electronics technologies, a Microsoft spokesman in Japan said.

Although Microsoft already held cross-licensing agreements with the likes of Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) and SAP AG (SAPG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) , this marked its first such deal with a Japanese electronics